A lipspeaker is a hearing person trained to repeat a speaker's message to lipreaders accurately, without using their voice. They produce clearly the shape of words, the flow, rhythm and phrasing of natural speech and repeat the stress as used by the speaker. The lipspeaker also uses facial expression, natural gesture and fingerspelling (if requested) to aid the lipreader's understanding.
Messages which are too fast for lipreading may have to be pared down by the lipspeaker, who is not more than a sentence behind the speaker. Many people speak up to 200 words a minute; lipspeaking, therefore, requires a high level of concentration. If two people speak at the same time, neither message can be passed on. Lipspeakers are also trained to provide a voiced transmission of the lipreader's message if requested.
Who uses lipspeakers?
Lipspeakers are mainly used by deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people who use lipreading as their first means of communication with other people. These lipreaders will have good English skills.
Hearing people may use a lipspeaker in order to communicate with deaf people. A lipspeaker may be employed to aid communication between lipreaders and hearing people in a range of situations, for example:
- adult education
- further and higher education
- conferences and meetings
- training courses
- job interviews
What are the different levels of lipspeaking?
There are two levels of lipspeaking and it is important that a lipspeaker of the correct level is engaged for an assignment.
Level 2 lipspeakers
Level 2 lipspeakers are trained to manage speeds of under 120 words a minute and are currently qualified to accept assignments at meetings organised specifically for, or to include, deaf or hard of hearing people. These include:
- talks and club meetings
- practical courses and demonstrations
- open or public meetings
- some one-to-one consultations
- religious services (where the liturgy is familiar to the lipspeaker)
- personal telephone calls
Level 3 lipspeakers
Level 3 lipspeakers are trained to manage speeds of over 120 words a minute - fast speeds being made lipreadable by omitting the redundancies of language, reducing adjectival words and phrases, and eliminating inessential language while maintaining accuracy.
Level 3 lipspeakers are experienced to manage all situations. They are qualified to accept professional assignments in the following settings:
- employment (job and career development, interviews, training courses)
- further and higher education (lectures, tutorials and demonstrations)
- medical settings (including HIV and AIDS counselling)
- theatre, television and cabaret work
- social services (including child protection and mental health)
- marriage guidance
- political meetings (including parliamentary lobbies)
- legal work (tribunals, solicitors and barristers' meetings, police, and all courts of law)
- assignment with lipreaders who have particular requirements, for example Usher syndrome
How many lipspeakers do I need?
For many assignments two lipspeakers will be required. A lipspeaker should not be expected to work alone for a whole day or for complex and specialist areas of work.
Code of Practice
All lipspeakers are expected to conform to a professional Code of Practice and must keep all information on assignments strictly confidential.
How do I find a lipspeaker?
Registered Level 3 lipspeakers are listed in the CACDP Directory. A list of Level 2 lipspeakers is available on request from CACDP. The Directory also lists Agencies and RNID Communication Services Units that offer lipspeaker support.
The Association of Lipspeakers (ALS) publishes a Directory of Members which not only includes both levels of lipspeaker but also has information on how to find, book and use lipspeakers.
If you experience difficulties in finding appropriate lipspeaker support, contact the Association of Lipspeakers.
There are more than 100 lipspeakers around the country, over 30 of whom are Level 3. You will need to book as far in advance as possible, preferably two to three weeks. Always make sure that you book the correct level of lipspeaker for the assignment; the booking agency, or ALS, will be able to advise you on this.
Rates of Pay
Recommended rates of pay are published annually in the CACDP Directory and the Association of Lipspeakers Directory and on the ALS website.
Useful contacts
Association of Lipspeakers
ALS Information Office
5 Furlong Close, Upper Tean, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST10 4LB
Tel: 01538 722482
Fax/Textphone: 01538 722442
E-mail: information@lipspeaking.co.uk
ALS Website: www.lipspeaking.co.uk
Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP)
Durham University Science Park, Block 4, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3UZ
Tel: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
Fax: 0191 383 7914
E-mail: durham@cacdp.co.uk
Website: www.cacdp.org.uk/
Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Information Line Tel: 0808 808 0123
Texphone: 0808 808 9000
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: helpline@rnid.org.uk
Website: www.rnid.org.uk
National Association of Deafened People (NADP)
PO Box 50, Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP6 6XB
Tel/textphone: 01494 723613
Fax: 01494 431932
Breakthrough Deaf-Hearing Integration
London Regional Office, The Hall, Peyton Place, London SE10 8RS
Tel/fax: 020 8853 5661
Textphone: 020 8853 2683
Revised: October 2007
