There are two levels of lipspeaking and it is important that you use the correct level of lipspeaker for your particular assignment. Below are the areas of work in which Level 2 and 3 lipspeakers are currently trained to undertake.

LEVEL 2 LIPSPEAKERS (speeds of up to 120 words a minute)

Meetings which are organised by or for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people only, and where permission is given for lipspeakers to interrupt proceedings if necessary. For example:

Association of Lipspeakers: AGM, workshops, regional meetings.
Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults (ATLA): AGM, workshops, regional meetings.
Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP): AGM, Working Group meetings.
Hard of Hearing clubs: AGM, talks, demonstrations, outings etc.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People: open days, talks etc.
National Association of Deafened People: AGM, regional groups, sub-committees.
National Deaf Children's Society: meetings of local groups.
Typetalk: meetings, demonstrations.

INFORMAL TALKS AND CLUB MEETINGS: Red Cross, Women's Institute, Townswomen's Guild, Probus, Parish church or other local religious group meetings.

SOME 1:1 CONSULTATIONS: GPs' surgeries and routine hospital appointments, dental appointments, MPs' surgeries, House agents, District and County Council offices, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Benefits Agency.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES: where the liturgy is familiar to the lipspeaker and there will be no sermons likely to be delivered at higher speeds, eg. Blessings, Communion Services, Christenings.

TELEPHONE WORK: private work only.

EDUCATIONAL WORK: small group practical courses, such as self-defence, relaxation, first aid, caligraphy, flower arranging, or in Further Education where the lipspeaker has background knowledge of the subject.

LEVEL 3 LIPSPEAKERS (speeds of over 120 words a minute)

OPEN OR PUBLIC MEETINGS: Disability Equality, political union, deaf organisations, Parliamentary lobby, conference.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES: of all sorts, where the language is familiar to the lipspeaker.

EDUCATION: lectures, tutorials and seminars in further and higher education.

JOB INTERVIEWS: personal assessment interviews, professional development assessments.

WORKPLACE ASSIGNMENTS: business and committee meetings, telephone work, union meetings, technical lectures and demonstrations, career development and training programmes.

PERSONAL CONSULTATIONS: all consultations in social services, marriage guidance, Samaritans.

LEGAL ASSIGNMENTS: police interviews, solicitor's meetings, investigations into child abuse and rape, immigrations hearings, tribunals, Courts of Law.

TELEVISION, THEATRE AND CABARET WORK: including rehearsals, plays and poetry readings.

ASSIGNMENTS WITH LIPREADERS WITH PARTICULAR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: for example, people with Usher Syndrome, people with learning disabilities, language modification (where previously agreed).

HEALTH SERVICE CONSULTATIONS: areas such as HIV/AIDS, mental health, addiction, counselling, hospice care.

SOCIAL SERVICES: training courses, care management assessments, child care investigation and assessment.

CONFERENCE WORK: of all kinds.

Due to the continuing shortage of Level 3 lipspeakers and the recent introduction of a mentor system, it is now generally accepted that an experienced Level 2 lipspeaker may co-work with a Level 3 lipspeaker in several of the above areas.

It is always necessary to have agreement from the Level 3 lipspeaker before offering a contract to a Level 2 co-worker.

In any event, such an assignment adds an extra responsibility to the senior lipspeaker. The rates of pay for the Level 2 are no higher than for any other Level 2 assignment.

Revised: October 2007