See beyond the disability

• About the booklet
• Queensland and disability
• Ethnicity, culture and disability
• Employment and disability
• Information and advice
  • Intellectual disability
  • Hearing impairments
  • Spinal injuries
  • Fluctuating conditions
  • Vision impairments
  • Complex communication needs
  • Psychiatric disability
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Acquired brain injury
  • Autism spectrum disorders
• Contacts

Hearing impairments

Sally works as a language assistant for the bi-lingual Auslan-English program at Toowong State School in Brisbane. She is married with three children.

Sally works as a language assistant for the bi-lingual Auslan-English program at Toowong State School in Brisbane. She is married with three children.

Sally's tips for including someone with a hearing impairment in everyday life

"Try to make an effort to communicate and don't worry that you'll offend someone. People with a hearing impairment will really appreciate it if hearing people make the effort to communicate with them. Some people with a hearing impairment can lip-read, but you can also try using gestures or writing notes in order to communicate. Remember that Auslan (sign language) does not have a written form, and for many people with a hearing impairment English is a second language. The Deaf community has a strong cultural identity and its own language - sign language. Inclusion means embracing different cultures."

Managing hearing impairments - how you can help

• Ask the person with a hearing impairment how they would prefer to communicate. Although some people can lip-read, most prefer to use an Auslan interpreter, or to write notes. When communicating through an Auslan interpreter, talk directly to the person, not their interpreter.
• Gain the person's attention before beginning to talk. Tapping a person with a hearing impairment on the upper shoulder is the appropriate way to get their attention.
• In a social setting try to include people with hearing impairments in discussions by using gestures and mime.
• By learning finger-spelling in Auslan you can dramatically improve your ability to communicate with colleagues and customers in the workplace and in social situations.
• Many workshops that teach Auslan and help people learn about the cultural and linguistic aspects of deafness are available.

"We are doing our best to make the future for Deaf children in Queensland better."

Key facts about hearing impairments

• Approximately 10 per cent of Australians have some degree of hearing loss.
• Many people have varying degrees of hearing loss caused by a number of things including genetics, childhood illness, old age and industrial deafness.
• Some people identify as Deaf, while others with limited hearing regard themselves as hearing impaired.
• Not all people with a hearing impairment use sign language. Others lip-read, have hearing aids or communicate via written notes and gestures.
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants will never result in the ability to hear fully.