The following quotes were provided by class members of Lipreading Groups held across Scotland. When asked about the impact these classes had on their lives, they shared the testimonials below.
Dumfries and Galloway Classes
This group has shown how to become more confident and comfortable rather than apologetic.
The social element is also essential because those with hearing loss can often feel isolated and avoid contact. This group has shown how to become more confident and comfortable rather than apologetic.
The knock-on effect of this is to improve the psychological wellbeing of the participants.
The group has provided fun, humour, a sense of community and wonderful emotional support.
In each class, as I gained skills in lipreading, I also grew in confidence in “owning” my deafness and no longer being embarrassed to ask for help or, importantly, the resources I needed in a place of work.
When I started lipreading over a year ago, I was very low in mood due to the rapid loss of my functional hearing. I had stopped working as a nurse, as I had lost confidence in my ability to communicate with others. I had withdrawn from many of my social and leisure activities.
The class welcomed me from the first class and made me feel part of a new supportive community. In each class, as I gained skills in lipreading, I also grew in confidence in “owning” my deafness and no longer being embarrassed to ask for help or, importantly, the resources I needed in a place of work.
The lipreading skills I have gained have been invaluable to me, as I have gone back into work (for the local council). I can manage to communicate in noisy environments when my hearing aids become overwhelmed.
The classes are fun; our deafness and hearing loss are no longer a point of sadness and loss but something that draws us together. I have regained my sense of self and my confidence to take on a new job and demand the appropriate equipment I need. I cannot really express how vital I feel the class to be, and how much more it should be celebrated
It has helped me so much to come to terms with my hearing loss in so many ways.
The group is very helpful, and it is so reassuring to be with others struggling with the same problem, how to resolve issues in everyday intercourse with others, as and when communication has to be key.
It has been helpful learning to stand up to the potential of any misunderstanding, especially in a crowd.
A huge benefit and ego-boosting in daily life. I have enjoyed them all
The biggest benefit for me of lipreading has been the increased confidence to socialise, and even mundane things such as shopping.
As I am farming, you don’t meet many people from day to day, and it’s also very easy to avoid people as well … and just “get on with the job”. Talking to my animals was a far bigger part of my life than talking to people. It was so much easier and no embarrassing situations of mishearing the other person (or animal!!!)
Anyway … the biggest benefit for me of lipreading has been the increased confidence to socialise, and even mundane things such as shopping. I would normally use self-service check-outs in supermarkets, as it meant avoiding a potentially embarrassing scenario when I can’t hear the card machine beep, never mind the check-out person saying something!
Now I always go for the normal check-out and make a point of talking to the member of staff. It’s a bit of a challenge for me, but good practice at lipreading, and also the increased confidence means that I really don’t mind saying to the person … “I am very deaf” … so it breaks the ice and I don’t feel I am in a threatening position. It has been life-changing.
Although being honest as well, when you come across someone you can’t lipread, it is disappointing … maybe I need more practice!
I can see progress, and I often surprise myself in social situations when I realise I've been using the learning to help me 'hear'.
When I heard about the lipreading classes, I thought that learning to lipread would be really helpful. Also, to pre-empt managing hearing issues as I age.
The classes have been wonderful. We don’t just learn to lipread; we learn about the theory of lipreading and about strategies to use in different situations to make it easier to interpret what others are saying and help to have normal conversations.
I can see progress, and I often surprise myself in social situations when I realise I’ve been using the learning to help me ‘hear’.
It has made me feel more confident in knowing that I won’t be making a fool of myself, and so, not shrinking from entering into conversations in challenging situations.
On top of that, the classes are socially great. We learn about a variety of services and products that others in the group have found helpful, and we learn from each other.
Lessons are fun, enormously informative about a wide range of subjects used as a basis for lipreading practice and never ever discouraging.
Everyone’s needs are attended to, and everyone is very encouraging and supportive of each other.
I hope my experience will encourage others to try to learn this method to supplement their hearing to help themselves in managing work and social situations and enhance their daily lives.
Falkirk Classes
I have been attending face-to-face classes for lipreading, and the classes have given me my life back as I am more confident.
Now I am a vocal advocate for people with a hearing loss at work, leading some changes to our meeting procedures to ensure that lipreaders are not excluded.
Prior to the Lipreading classes, my hearing loss affected me drastically at work as I spoke to customers and stakeholders. There was an overwhelming feeling of isolation and feeling stupid.
With the teacher’s vast expertise, I was able to use the lipreading techniques in an inclusive, non-judgemental, open, and friendly environment. Lipreading is like my glasses, an essential accessory I need for everyday life, but it also takes time to learn.
My lipreading class is essential to help me continue to “hear with my eyes” but more importantly, help me stay me and maintain my mental wellbeing. Without the classes for lipreading, many people will find themselves isolated and excluded from society.
Glasgow classes
One thing I have learned from Lipreading classes is the processing of lipreading and how we are a few seconds behind, and so miss parts of the conversation.
So as part of the coping strategies, I have learned to tell people to give me time to process the information. This way, I am becoming more assertive in telling people this so that I do not miss part of the conversation.
Since attending Face to Face lipreading classes, I have become more confident in social situations and have become more assertive, requesting seating in restaurants, theatres.
I am less anxious about the future should my hearing continue to deteriorate, and I am more confident that I have the skills to help me communicate.
Also, I have improved concentration, listening skills and memory.
I found attending the class for lipreading has helped me to hear better. I am hard of hearing, and before I realised this, I had been lipreading people for years.
I was hearing with my eyes! I started our lipreading classes with the basics, then how to improve communication tips and skills.
The classes are varied and fun, and we are all committed to learn more
Our Tutor Jill invests a massive amount of time and dedication to the classes. We are all appreciative of her knowledge and skills.
I have been attending Face to face-to-face lipreading classes for two years now, held in the West End of Glasgow. I have learned so much from these sessions, participating in practical classroom sessions, and undertaking homework and practice at home between classes. I have enjoyed learning and practising in this safe space.
I have learned so much about the topics that affect deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, none of which I would have discovered without our classes.
Without this class, I don’t know how I would prepare myself for my ever-reducing hearing capabilities. I would recommend these classes to anyone in the same situation.
Online classes
It has made such a difference to how I feel about my hearing, and I am more able to cope with it.
Gained an understanding of what each one of us in the class faces daily, and it is really helpful to share our experiences. The class is also fun, entertaining and informative.
I wanted to share my thoughts on the Zoom lipreading classes, as they have been incredibly informative and entertaining.
The sessions are engaging, and I have learned so much, and it is amazing to see how much progress I have made thanks to these classes.
I am learning so much and improving my lipreading.
I am learning so much and improving my lipreading.
The classes are informative, easy to follow, and fun too. It is also a safe place to learn. I also find them tiring as my brain is being challenged … but that is a good thing.
I have grown in confidence with my lipreading and find it an invaluable aid in partnership with my hearing aids.
I have been attending a Zoom lipreading class over the past 18 months and thoroughly enjoy the classes.
I like the Zoom class format as it allows me to participate after a busy day at work. I like the format and structure of the warm-up of the mystery object and themed story, and the homework and all the exercises for the lipreading class.
Focusing on difficult words, similarity between words and speech patterns, lip patterns, and lip shapes is very useful in demonstrating some of the pitfalls we can encounter as lipreaders.
I have benefited from the classes, and the tutor shares her experiences, which makes me feel prepared and capable of managing my hearing loss going forward.