Dave Berry | Partner

How Do We Communicate? Deaf Awareness Week 2017

This week is Deaf Awareness Week. It takes place from 15 May 2017 until 22 May 2017 with the aim of trying to create a fully deaf-aware society. There are a number of events and campaigns taking place throughout the week to try and promote an understanding of all degrees of deafness as well as the communication methods that can be used.

People are not just born deaf. They can lose their hearing over time, through illness or as a result of an accident. It is important that there are no barriers to communication whatever the level of hearing loss and how it has come about. The following are helpful tips for communicating with someone with a hearing loss (and by reading them you’ve become a bit more deaf-aware!)

  • Don’t shout (it makes you seem aggressive!)
  • Make sure the person is facing you before you start speaking
  • Speak clearly
  • Make sure that the person understands what you are saying
  • Make sure that there are no distractions around you and that there is adequate lighting

At Jackson Boyd we have experience of working with clients with a hearing loss. This can often involve someone who has sustained a hearing loss as a result of their working conditions or a hearing loss sustained as a result of an accident. When dealing with these clients it is important that we have an understanding of what it means to be deaf-aware to ensure that we can deal with their case effectively (I’ll admit that as a child of deaf parents I probably have a head start on everyone else!).

At Jackson Boyd we communicate with clients in many different ways to make sure there are no barriers to communication. It is not all done by telephone. We regularly communicate with clients by email (as well as the traditional letters), text message and even fax if required. More recently, we have introduced a web chat function within our website which again is geared towards breaking down any remaining barriers. This means that no one is excluded.

We are also aware that clients do prefer to meet with us face to face. We have staff in the office who are able to communicate using British Sign Language. This means that we can meet with clients without having to arrange an interpreter. We can even arrange an appointment by Skype if preferred.

If someone has sustained a hearing loss as a result of an accident or through illness then we understand that this can be a very difficult time for them. We are used to dealing with cases that have changed a client’s life significantly and therefore understand the difficulties and frustrations that they are experiencing.

If you consider that you may have a personal injury claim caused by the negligence of another party then please please contact us online by clicking here or speak to a member of our specialist team on 0333 222 1855.

Dave Berry

Dave Berry

Personal Injury Team

“It may be something of a cliché but I enjoy helping my clients and guiding them through what can often be the daunting prospect of being involved in a personal injury court action, whilst also ensuring I obtain the best possible result for them.”

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