Helping Mothers
Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Nancy Jo Bykowski
Illinois
From: LEAVEN, May-June 1994, pp. 45-6
We provide articles
from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and
members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information
change over time
I recently received an unexpected
kind of helping call. When I answered the telephone, an operator said
that he was calling from the Illinois Relay system. He told me that
another person was calling me from a text telephone. He said he would
be reading her words to me and would transcribe my spoken response for
her to read. He asked me to speak clearly and say "go ahead"
when I was finished speaking.
With such a whirlwind introduction,
I found the call a bit confusing. I got the feeling that since the mother
would be reading my responses, I should try to form grammatically correct
sentences. I felt a normal urge to say nurturing things, but I was afraid
that it would take too much time. The call ended quickly because the
baby was crying and the mother needed to go to him. I managed to get
her address and offered to send written information before the call
ended.
It was only after I hung
up that I realized that the mother I had just "talked" to
was probably deaf or hard of hearing! My interest was piqued, so I decided
to educate myself about the system I had just used. I started by going
to our Area Administrative Assistant, who keeps track of the Leader
interest/experience sheets in Illinois. She connected me with a Leader
in the area, Kathleen Tully, who had experience using the Illinois Relay
System. I also went to my local library and gathered information from
other sources.
I found that mothers who
are hard of hearing, deaf or speech impaired can use special equipment
to make phone calls. A text telephone or telecommunications device for
the deaf (this can be abbreviated as TT, TTY, or TDD) can send typed
messages over phone lines. In the past, users of TT equipment could
only call locations that also had this special equipment.
Relay systems have been developed
to allow TT users to communicate by telephone with people who don't
have TT equipment. A relay system provides trained operators who have
TT equipment. The TT user calls the relay center and the relay center
operator calls the person without TT equipment, thus setting up a three-way
call. The operator acts as a translator by reading the typed messages
and transcribing the spoken responses. These systems were mandated recently
in the United States by the Americans with Disabilities Act. While such
sophisticated systems may not yet be available everywhere, it is of
interest to know about this technology.
A Leader who receives such
a call should speak as if she were speaking directly to the mother,
ignoring the idea that there is someone translating. It's okay to take
the time to be empathetic as you gather information. The operators are
well trained and the equipment is suited to the task at hand. The operator
will let the Leader know if she is talking too fast or if there are
technical terms that need to be spelled. The slight delay that occurs
while the messages are being sent can be used to take notes and check
resources.
Active listening skills are
especially helpful on relay systems. Since communication travels through
a third person, you may find that some situations or emotions remain
unclear. Active listening, the skill of restating the feeling and content
of what the speaker has communicated in a way that demonstrates understanding
and acceptance, can overcome this challenge. A Leader can mirror details
back to the mother to make sure she has understood correctly. Or, the
mother can be asked to repeat the suggestions that have been made in
order to see if they have been communicated clearly. It might also be
helpful to ask, "Do you have any questions?" to give the mother
a chance to ask for more information or a clearer explanation.
All calls are confidential
and it is possible to request a female operator. This is a valuable
option since a woman may be more familiar with the subject matter. A
mother who has some hearing may request "hearing carry over"
along with the transcription of the conversation so that she can use
her hearing to help communicate. If this alternative is requested, the
operator will let you know. If a Leader needs to call a mother back
with more information, she should get both the mother's telephone number
and the number for the relay system. To call a mother back, call the
relay system first so that a three-way call can be set up.
Leaders who have personal
computers equipment (including a modem and telecommunications software)
may be able to use that equipment in conjunction with a telephone relay
system. Leaders who subscribe to an interactive computer service may
want to inquire about whether the mother has such equipment available.
Since this precludes the need for a third party, it may make communication
more direct. For more information about special considerations when
using such systems, refer to "The World's Largest La Leche League
Meeting," November/December 1992 LEAVEN
and "LLL and Interactive Computer Services," July-August 1993
LEAVEN.
Sending written information
may be especially helpful for mothers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
A mother who uses TT equipment for phone calls may be more fluent in
sign language than she is in spoken language. Sign language is more
visual and has slightly different grammar than spoken language. Having
the information in writing gives the mother a chance to "translate."
For more information about whether a telephone relay system is available
in your area, check your telephone directory or call your local phone
company. These systems may differ slightly from state to state and country
to country.
A mother who is deaf or hard
of hearing may wish to attend a Series Meeting or may need a home visit
from a Leader. If she communicates through sign language, she may know
someone who would be willing to interpret for her. In some communities,
interpreters who are fluent in sign language may be available. If an
interpreter is used, be sure to talk directly to the mother, not the
interpreter.
Some mothers who are deaf
or hard of hearing are able to lip-read and speak. It is important to
remember that even the best lip-reader picks up less than half the words
you speak, and relies upon you to look directly at her as you speak
clearly and slowly. Lip-reading is made more difficult by exaggerated
lip movements and shouting. Keep your hands away from your mouth when
speaking. It's helpful to speak expressively because the mother will
use your facial expressions, gestures, and body movements to help her
interpret your words. Don't stand with a bright light behind you. Whenever
possible, ask questions that can be answered in few words or with a
nod of the head. Don't pretend to understand when you don't. Repeat
what you think the person said, and use written notes if necessary.
Whether the approach is high-tech,
mother-to-mother, or through an interpreter, La Leche League Leaders
all over the world can help mothers from many different backgrounds.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:59 UTC 2007.
