Everyone can have moments when lip reading becomes difficult. There are just some situations that make it impossible to lip read all the content, but what is important is to understand and communicate as much as possible. Following are some tips that can help make lip reading more effective.
•Lip reading is not limited to reading the other person’s lips. Being able to see the person’s entire face, expressions, gestures and even body movement can help with reading and better communication. Facial expressions, in particular, can give very important clues about the topic and the speaker’s mood.
•Be aware of the position of the speaker. Try to stand in position six feet or less from the speaker since this will make it easier to see body language, lip and facial movements. Try to avoid bright lights behind the speaker as these can cast shadows on the speaker’s face and make it more difficult to lip read.
•Make an attempt to relax when needing to lip read since tension and stress can make it harder to concentrate on the other person. Do not put pressure on yourself to read the other person’s lips, expressions or gestures. Try to be calm so that the lip reading comes naturally.
•Try to identify the topic as early as possible. Knowing the topic of the conversation will help you fill in a lot of what is missed during lip reading.
•Do not attempt to read every word said. Instead, focus on the topic of the conversation and in full sentences. This will help with figuring out the rhythm of the speech patterns and help with overall lip reading. As you become more comfortable with lip reading, this will feel more natural.
•Keep up-to-date with world and community issues and your family and friends’ interests. This will assist you during conversations, making it easier to follow the topic.
•Attempt to be involved in the conversation. Do not try to remain isolated and invisible since conversation and communication involve the active participation of the members of the circle.
•Let others know that you need to lip read as part of the conversation. This is will allow them to adjust their actions so that you can be an active participant in the conversation. Without prior knowledge of your lip reading, they might unintentionally act in ways that will make it more challenging for you to understand and participate.
•Remember that lip reading is not just about listening by reading lips. It also involves looking and thinking, so it takes a lot of work and concentration.
•Develop a sense of rhythm. The rhythm of speech affects the way sounds are formed; by being conscious of the speakers rhythm, you can pace yourself to crucial clues.
•Fatigue can set in when lip reading for extended periods of time. Because it involves such an amount of concentration, you can become very tired as you lip read, particularly when you first begin lip reading. Taking frequent breaks to breathe deeply and close your eyes should help with the fatigue until you get used to the amount of concentration and work needed.
Becoming an effective lip reader takes time, practice and patience. The more you do it, the easier and more natural it will become, but it is a process that can last a lifetime since there are many dialects and patterns to learn. Additionally, each person is different and lip reading each face involves different tools. It is also an invaluable skill that can benefit everyone in all aspects of their lives. Taking courses to learn and hone this skill is one of the ways you can improve your lip reading. Try our online course to begin learning lip reading immediately.
Lipreading.org