If you’re familiar with what we do at Complete Communication, you might have seen us mention lipspeakers. But unless you are already familiar with them, you may find yourself wondering, what is a lipspeaker?

Who are lipspeakers?

Lipspeaker refers to someone who is trained to lipspeak so that they are easy to lipread. Lipspeakers are hearing people who can clearly reproduce a speaker’s message by repeating what is being said without sound and with clear lip patterns. Using facial expressions and natural gestures, they can repeat the speaker’s words, including the rhythm and flow in which something was said. These clear lip patterns, gestures and expressions allow the person being supported to understand what is being said and the way it is being delivered. 

Not everyone is easy to lipread! Some people may not articulate words fully or speak too quickly or slowly to be understood by a lipreader. Research has shown that only around 25-30% of speech is lip readable, which can increase and decrease based on various factors, such as context, knowledge of the person, the topic of discussion, etc. When you spin this around, that means that 70-75 % of speech could be education guesswork.

Some lipspeakers are also trained to combine BSL (British Sign Language) with Lipspeaking. However, it’s important to note that BSL/English Interpreters and Lipspeakers are different forms of communication support. BSL is an official language of its own, with its own syntax, grammar and structure. That being said, some clients may request a lipspeaker to add signs when providing communication support. This is called Lipspeaking with Sign or Sign Supported English (SSE), which, unlike BSL, uses the same flow and grammar as spoken English. 

It’s important to remember that it really  comes down to the service user’s preference as to which method of communication they want to use or access in each setting, as they will know what best works for them.

When Are Lipspeakers Used?

Lipspeakers work within a variety of environments in the same way as other communication support professionals. Settings where they are regularly utilised is within the workplace, meetings, education, medical appointments, during social events and more. In addition to this, as technology has advanced, we are now seeing Lipspeakers working online using platforms such as zoom or Microsoft teams in addition to face-to-face support.

What Makes a Good Lipspeaker?

A good lipspeaker will always make sure they are visible, making sure there are minimal visual distractions. For longer meetings, they will take breaks to ensure the quality of their lipspeaking does not decrease with fatigue. They may also co-work with another lipspeaker so that they can alternate and take breaks without the session having to pause. Most importantly, they will adapt their support to meet the individual needs of the clients and the setting.

What Challenges do Lipspeakers Face?

 Lipspeaking can be challenging for many different reasons. One example of this could be when they are Lipspeaking for fast speakers. If a speaker keeps rushing what they are saying, it may be more challenging for Lipspeakers to effectively repeat what is being said.

Additionally, as a type of communication support, there is still limited knowledge of it and its benefits, which is something that we hope will grow over time, as there are many people who could benefit from working with a Lipspeaker.

Is It Hard to Learn to Lipread?

Lipreading is a skill which requires time and practice. The good news is that it is possible to learn and improve with time and practice. Everyone has different rates at which they will be able to learn this, some taking longer than others. Lipreading is useful, especially for people who are losing their hearing or are deaf.

Lipspeaking is a great service that helps many people worldwide and improves accessibility for deaf people. If you need a highly qualified lipspeaker or would like to book our lipspeaking services, please click here.

Alternatively, you can contact our sister company, Complete Communication LTD, directly by calling the team on 01752289776 or by writing us at contactus@completecommsltd.com.