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Resources for Speechreading
Evergreen Speech & Hearing
12034 NE 130th Land
Kirkland, WA
Scheduled as requested
Group class held occasionally at Evergreen Hospital
Phone 425-882-4347
Hearing Speech & Deafness Ctr.
1620 18th Avenue
Seattle WA 98122
www.hsdc.org; 3rd Thurs. of each month 2:30-4 pm. Group class with speechreading one topic of many. Free to HSDC clients; $10 to others. Phone 206-323-5770 for reservation.
S.K. Osborn, MA,CCC-SLP
3920 NW Fairway Lane
Bremerton, WA 98312
Wed. & Fri. Scheduling can be flexible to individual or group needs. Classes either at her home or Audiologists
NW in Bremerton; Hearing Management Program is a 6-week series for $90; Beginning speechreading/lipreading is a 6-week series for $100; Intermediate speech-reading/lipreading is a 6 to 8-week series for $150;
Sessions can be either group or individual. Call 360-377-6620
University of Washington Speech & Hearing Clinic
4131 15th Ave. NE
Seattle WA 98105-6246
Offered regularly throughout the year; Group ($10) and or individual ($15) sessions. Phone 206-543-5440.
Virginia Mason Listen for Life Center
1100 Ninth Ave.
Seattle WA 98111
Scheduled as interest is shown;
Group class to improve speech-reading; 5 week series $40
lsnforlife@vmmc.org or phone 206-223-8802
WA State University Clinic
601 West 1st Ave.
Spokane WA
Contact clinic for availability
509-358-7579
Western WA University Clinic
Parks Hall
Bellingham WA 98225
Scheduled as requested
Group or individual sessions
Occasionally given at retirement homes, senior centers
Phone 360-650-3881
(Please help us add to this list -
It’s no mystery!
Speechreading
By
E. Sue Sanborn, Ph.D./CCC-A,
Dept. of Speech & Hearing Sciences, UW
What is it?
Speechreading is often used synonymously with the term lipreading. Speechreading is using what you see on the speaker’s lips as well as facial expressions and gestures to understand conversation. Actually everyone, even those with normal hearing, use visual cues.
Next time you are in a very noisy room, notice how closely you watch as well as listen to understand. Not having a face visible is one reason phone conversations can be particularly difficult.
What is it not?
Learning to speechread is not a quick and simple cure. It takes time and effort to become proficient. It is best taught with other communication strategies such as manipulating the environment and learning effective conversation repair skills.
Who needs it?
People with hearing loss can use speechreading to supplement understanding when they have trouble understanding or hearing speech. Often those speech sounds that are hard to hear are easy to see, like a softly spoken "p" sound. The more severe the hearing loss or the more noisy the environment, the more likely one can benefit from speechreading.
Family and close friends who are frequent communication partners of a person with hearing loss can also benefit from training in ways to make their speech more easily understood. Everyone meeting together in sessions is the best way to improve.
When should I start?
Now is the best time to begin training to improve your speechreading
Where can I learn more?
Most people with hearing loss pick up some speechreading on their own.
Training and practice can improve those skills. Some speech pathologists and many audiologists will provide training; contact someone near your home to make arrangements. Several sites around the state provide speechreading training on a regular basis.
In some cases, insurance covers the cost of classes.
