Some students may use American Sign Language as their first language. For them, English is their second language. Other deaf students may prefer an English based sign language system as their primary language. Due to their diversity, deaf and hard of hearing students may use various combinations of language and speech to communicate. It is important to remember that lip reading is not a reliable method for successful communication.
Lip reading is beneficial only when used in conjunction with other communication systems.
Even though hearing loss is a pervasive disability, it often remains undiagnosed. When this is the case, counseling intervention may be recommended. If necessary, the student, interpreter, and instructor may meet to discuss additional classroom needs. The classroom interpreter's role is to convey messages between instructor, student, and others in the educational environment. Interpreters function under a professional Code of Ethics.