Lip reading is an art, and it requires a lot of practice to master this art. Moreover, there are different ways a person can learn the tricks of lip reading. It can be an essential tool of communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
There are different formations and facial expressions that can guide a person to efficiently lip read. Know that lip reading requires practice and dedication to learn. Eventually, after a lot of practice, you’ll be able to gain more confidence and improve your lip reading skills and communication.
Yes, initially, it can be a bit tiring as lip reading requires a lot of efficient concentration. So, don’t forget to take breaks in between and relax during those intervals.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to read lips more comfortably. Make sure that you read till the end.
Effective Ways to Lip Read More Comfortably
In this section, you’ll be knowing some of the most important and effective ways to lip read more comfortably! So, don’t skip any points, as all of them can help you improve your lip-reading skills.
1. Always Know Your Context Before Lip-Reading
Whenever you are reading lips, you need to know the context before you start to communicate. Understanding the context will allow you to lip read more accurately, and you’ll also feel more comfortable while speaking.
You might initially feel awkward to ask the person about the subject of the conversation, especially when you are in the middle of the conversation. However, remember that incorrect responses in the middle of the conversation will be even more awkward.
Therefore, when you know what the conversation is about, you will understand a lot better and lip-reading will become easier.
2. Practice More and More!
There’s no alternative to practice!! The more you practice, the more you’ll be able to get better at lip-reading. You can always watch video clips that have subtitles. This will allow you to ensure that the lip-reading you are doing is accurate.
Moreover, if you want, you can also take training from experts, as this can give you a proper understanding of lip-reading. At the end of the day, it’s all about practice. The more you practice, the more you’ll be comfortable with lip-reading.
3. Always Look at Lip Patterns and Shapes
For instance, when you read a book, the visual shape of the characters (if there are any) gives you a better understanding of the scene you are reading. You can make a visual representation in your head that makes the scenario easier to understand.
The same goes for sounds! When we speak, our lips and facial expressions change with different scenarios. Understanding that pattern and lip movement really helps us lip-read.
At first, it might seem like an impossible mission, but with practice and dedication, you’ll be able to understand these facial expressions and lip movements. This will help you to make progress and to also be more comfortable with lip-reading.
4. Make Use of Lateral Thinking for Making the Best Guess!
Holding on and understanding the situation will help you to be able to read lips better. When you use your lateral thinking, you can understand a lot just by assessing your situation from a different perspective!
For instance, if you are at a social gathering, and there are people around you, in order to blend in with the environment, you can use your lateral thinking and anticipate the conversations that may arise.
Let’s see an example:
Would you like….a biscuit/ a drink, etc.?
You can already predict what the person might say to you just by observing the situation. This will help you with your lip-reading, and you’ll feel more comfortable getting engaged with conversations.
5. Get Familiar with More Phrases and Common Words
Different situations require different kinds of conversational engagement. Yes, it can be very painful and stressful to encounter other conversations just by relying on lip-reading.
You can sort out these difficulties just by practicing with a friend. Tell your friend to come to you with different conversational situations.
These practice sessions will not only be enjoyable, they will also allow you to get familiar with different words and phrases. Furthermore, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable when reading lips.
6. Go for Non-Verbal Communication
One of the best ways for lip-reading can be the use of non-verbal communication. You may be asking yourself how to engage in non-verbal communication? Honestly, it’s all about gestures and body language.
Although it might seem impossible initially, the more you concentrate and practice, the more you’ll have a grip over it.
Here are a few examples of non-verbal communication that might help you with understanding body language:
- Stretching might indicate tiredness, boredom, or even pain.
- Facial expressions can tell you if a person is sad, happy, fed up, angry, excited, curious, etc. Similarly, the shoulders can often be an indicator of the mood of the person.
- Hand gestures can show how someone is feeling. For example, if someone points a finger, he might be emphasizing something.
So, when you start understanding non-verbal communication, lip-reading can indeed become very comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Lip-reading can be one of the essential communication tools at your disposal especially if you suffer from hearing loss. Although it might seem pretty complicated, this can become an easy method of communication for you with proper practice and dedication.
Moreover, maintaining and following these guidelines will surely help you read lips more comfortably and with much more proficiency!
