Lip reading and eye health

The week, 12th – 18th September is Lip Reading Awareness Week. Here, Lip Reading Tutor Jill Bradshaw reminds us of the need to look after our eyes too!

It is important that we look after our eyes when we are lipreaders as we are using our eyes a lot more than those who have hearing. We use them for various things as well as lipreading as they have in some way replaced our eyes. Since the information is taking longer to process due to the fact that the messages are travelling to the brain in a different way.

We use our eyes for the following:

Reading books
Reading subtitles on tv
Driving and use our eyes a bit more than other people
Lipreading all the time!

1. We should have eye breaks when we are using for them for a long length of time as our eyes become tired. If you are having people at meetings or training sessions where they have advised you that they have a hearing loss. You need to be aware that they will need eye breaks as eyes can become sore if you have been lipreading a person for a long time. This can apply to any gatherings for those who are attending with a hearing loss.

2. Eye tests are important for those using their eyes for lipreading so it is worthwhile that you have an agreement in place with the opticians so that you can have an eye test once a year rather than wait two years.

3. Everyone loves to read a book but make sure that you have plenty of light when you are reading a book. Since you need to take good care of your eyes when lipreading also reading a book you need to make sure that you are not straining your eyes. Sometimes it is a good idea to get books with large print or use the I pad when you can make the font bigger when you are reading the book on the iPad or kindle.

4. Sunglasses are important for protecting your eyes from the sun and if you have any eye conditions it is always good to wear sunglasses outside. It is recommended that you have UV rays with your sunglasses to protect your eyes. In addition to if you have Macular Degeneration, you can get special sunglasses for this. This is for the bright rays of the sun.

However, in the dark when the vision goes down a bit it is a good idea to have a torch with you when you go out in the dark. There are many pocket torches that you can get for your pocket or bags which keeps you safe in the dark.

5. Sitting at the computer for a very long time also this applies to your tablet and I pad as this can weaken your eyes. They say it is best to have breaks when you are on the computer as this helps also for Zoom Lipreading Lessons it is good to have a break for Lipreading and this breaks up the lesson. This is also the same for the length of time that you are on the face time calls as we have been using this more due to Covid. It can be quite intense when you are lipreading someone for a long time on a screen.

6.Also, when we are outside, we are using our eyes more too, for example, going to the cinema results us in reading the captions. Basically, more concentration is required in all aspects of life.

7. Refreshing your eyes

Always ask the pharmacist what is best for your eyes if they are tired. Hay fever can affect your eyes, a warm compress can be used to relieve pain, cucumber is fresh and cools the eyes down!

And the best, free option – Have a good sleep!

8. So, looking after our eyes, there are ways that we can help ourselves:

Eye breaks
Lighting make sure there is plenty of light
Don’t lipread someone in front of a window
Wear sunglasses when outside
Blink your eyes
Relax your eyes
Do not sit at the computer too long
Eye tests
Have a torch outside when it is dark

Be kind to your eyes, look after them!

Hope that this helps you but please remember I am not an ophthalmologist so if you have any eye pains that you have never had before, please see your optician.

Your eyes are important!

Invisible Faces – Poem by Jill Bradshaw

Here we are going through Covid 19

Something we have never seen

Before in our lifetime

And some of us are in our prime

The face coverings that we are wearing

We Lipreaders feel we are staring

At the invisible faces

Where we are put through our paces

To see the lips that we no longer see

Which confuses me

Searching to see what people are saying

Then we start praying

That people will understand

When we say I am a lipreader so need to see lips

Every day we are giving them tips

To communicate with us as we stand

We have to see facial expressions

And lips that tell us the conversation

Which have gone too becoming an invisible face

As the whole face is covered so let’s brace

Ourselves and say here we go again

As we hold the pain

Of seeing an invisible face

Remember the pace

You have to go out prepared to explain Hey I am a Lipreader!