This document provides an overview of intercultural communication between deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals. It discusses key terms like deaf, hard of hearing, and degrees of hearing loss. It also compares deaf culture and American Sign Language to mainstream U.S. culture and English. The document outlines appropriate communication tools and behaviors when interacting with someone who has hearing loss, such as getting their attention before speaking. Overall, the goal is to raise awareness and provide guidance on respectful intercultural communication.

1. Intercultural
Communication
USDA APHH
AIMEE SEVER-HALL, M.A.
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
MAY 25, 2017
Pudans-Smith, 2016

2. Overview
Deaf Spectrum
Deaf
deaf
Hard of Hearing
“Hearing Loss”
Degrees of loss
Communication
Label
Perspectives
Comparison of Values
Cultures
Languages
Communication tools
How to approach
Appropriate steps
Variety of preferences
Do’s and Don’ts
Rules of behaviors
Emergency

3. Deaf
Hard of Hearing
Hearing Loss

4. ✴ Helps some hear words clearly
✴ Help others hear environmental cues

5. Some people opt to use their voice
while others may not use their voice
Not an indicator of intelligence or ability

6. ➡ Unable to listen to radio announcements
➡ Unable to catch conversational tidbits
➡ Unable to hear the environment noise or announcements
➡ Unable to share the latest joke with a co-worker
More than just hearing loss
Loss of communicative means

7. Deaf
deaf
Hard of
Hearing
Refers to a particular group of deaf people who
share a language - American Sign Language
(ASL) -- and a culture (Padden & Humphries, 1988)
Refers to the audiological condition of not hearing,
and a different group of people who are not
culturally involved (Padden & Humphries, 1988)
Refers to a group of deaf people who have mild to
moderate hearing loss (is now evolving to
“people with hearing loss”) (Padden & Humphries, 1988)

8. U.S. Culture
Deaf Culture
• Separate individuals
• Responsible for themselves
“Do your own thing”
“I did it my way”
Individualism
• Members of a group
• Includes ALL Deaf people
• Close-knit and interconnected group
Collectivism

9. A linguistic and cultural group
Social norms and values are passed down from one generation to another
ASL as a primary means of communication
Arts, values, beliefs, and behaviors
Strong heritage
Not a physical condition, but an ethnic identity
DEAF CULTURE

10. - A natural language
- Developed gradually over time among members of
the Deaf community
- The only language that was created by Deaf people
- An autonomous linguistic system independent from
English
- Has all of the features of a language that makes a
natural communication system

11. New signs are being added with the emergence of new technology
Bedrock of signing Deaf people
Meaning is conveyed through the hands, facial expressions, and body shifts
ASL is not a universal language
A living language

12. Getting Attention

13. Gesturing
Pantomime/ Charade
Body language
Facial expression
Universal signs
Interpreter
Signing
Fingerspelling
Lipreading/ Speaking
Writing
Drawing
Pointing

14. Adds meaning to communication just like spoken English intonation
Slight nodding shows that you are attentive

15. Body language includes shoulders, elbows, torso and feet
to indicate underlying feelings and intentions

16. • Don’t assume all people can lipread
• At best, only 30% of English speech is clearly visible
• Successful lipreading is a skill that requires training
• Different factors to lipread effectively

17. BEHAVIORS
Getting the attention of others
Walking between two D/HOH people conversing
Maintaining eye contact
Pointing

18. DO’S DON’TS
Learn ASL or ABC’s – even a
little helps!
Get the person’s attention
before communicating
When communicating, excuse
yourself before breaking eye
contact
Don’t become discouraged if
you have difficulty learning
ASL
Don’t turn away from
someone when
communicating
Don’t talk down to the
person. Don’t be
paternalistic, assuming you
know what they need or
want

19. Safe evacuation
• Communication
• Alert system
• Bystander support

20. Value in Communication
Face to face communication
=
An investment, not an imposition
If I don’t understand what the Deaf person was saying,
what should I do? Pretend that I understood?

21. WORKSHOP

22. A.S.L
Hi, Hello
How are you?
Good
Fine
Don’t know
Don’t understand
Bathroom
Write
Please
Sorry
Thank you
Welcome
Paper/pen
Forgot
Wait
Sign (language)
What
Where
Hungry
Thirsty
Drink
Smells good
Good morning
Good afternoon
Excuse-me
Have (Possession)
Don’t Have
Taste
Like
Don’t like

23. WRAP UP

24. Contact Information
Aimee Sever-Hall
PST Program Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aimee.sever-hall@gallaudet.edu
Christina Hopewell-Albert
PST Program Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . christina.hopewell-albert@gallaudet.edu
Azalea Davis
Extension Program and Support Coordinator . . . . . . . . . azalea.davis@gallaudet.edu