Deaf Like Me

Tom and Louise realize that for Lynn, speech and lip reading are not interconnected processes. Lynn’s lip reading steadily improves, but has no bearing on her ability to produce speech sounds. At another child’s birthday party, Lynn does not know how to blow out a candle. Louise and Tom work to try and show Lynn that air should come out of her mouth when she blows, but she only makes the connection when they give her a party whistle with a paper tube attached to the end. To prepare Lynn to speak, the John Tracy course advises Tom and Louise to encourage her whenever she uses her voice, even when she yells in frustration. They can also hold Lynn’s hand on their throats when they talk to demonstrate that sound occurs when their lips move. 

They continue to play games that help Lynn recognize sounds and their meanings. Lynn likes these games but becomes frustrated when people cannot understand her. She gets angry when she cannot communicate what she wants, which puts strain on everyone. The John Tracy Clinic advises Tom and Louise to put together an experience book for Lynn, which contains pictures of a range of scenarios that Lynn can use to communicate.