Emmer

Did anyone else feel like the portrayal of communicating with a Deaf person wasn't portrayed very well in the recent television show, Switched at Birth? I haven't watched all of the episodes, but from what I've seen, especially Daphne seems to be seen as a super lip reader.

Yes there are times when John says something to her and her back is turned, but there are other times that she hears something that is said when someone has their back to them or their face is covered. They do have examples of her not catching something said, but I feel like her lip reading skills are unrealistic. I know I have a hard time reading someone's lips when they are turned to the side, yet she does this effortlessly. I know my lip reading skills aren't great, but can you really read them that well by the side?

Also, is it just me, or was Regina's signing...choppy? Almost. Like. She. Signed. Like. This. Stopping between signs instead of flowing? Though I must say, I'm glad that her character took the time to actually learn sign! So many parents don't...

I did like that the Kennishes were seen as a family who were pretty much clueless about the Deaf community, but eventually wised up. I liked that John wanted her to get the CI, but she refused and how her mom stood up for her. I also like that Katherine started to learn how to sign.

Does anyone else think that Emmett (Sean Berdy) is cute? I also have seen him in some commercial thing for a video communication thing - Mossdeux or something? But he was much younger.

Deafness

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TWA

You have to be very careful with judging lipreading/speechreading and saying it's inaccurate or not. I know plenty of deaf people who can lipread just as well as the way Daphne lipreads. Granted, she would be in the top level, but it's not impossible.

There are plenty of inaccuracies, sure. But why are you focusing on the negative when the overall portrayal of Deafness is overwhelmingly positive and accurate? I can forgive them a few hiccups when they have the overall message correct.

Emmer

Sorry if this seemed overly negative. I loved the show and want to watch the rest, except NetFlix does not have captions on it. I may have to buy DVD if it comes out on them. In this post, I decided to focus on what I felt was inaccurate, I was just wondering if this was things that I noticed or if it was agreed upon by others. Don't take this to mean that I did not like the show or did not think there were good aspects in it. There were MANY good aspects that I appreciated greatly.

I definitely agree with you about varying lip-reading abilities, but I was speaking about in general? I feel like it gives the public the idea that you can talk to a Deaf person just like you talk to a hearing person, turning your back, covering your mouth, etc. I personally found Bay's lips very hard to read, she tends to smile while talking in a strange way and talk without moving her lips. I could hear the sounds, but not understand what she said without captions.

Totally off topic - your avatar, is that Purdue? I met someone today with a Purdue shirt (transfer) on and the logo looked similar...just found that interesting!

rebeccalj

I do not know about this show. Rarely watch TV but I think I will when this one comes on if it ever does. Search PVR and there is nothing?

For me, I *can* read side of mouth but only on some people. It depend how well they naturally annunciate. Sometimes I cannot even lipread face to face because they mumble.

So, maybe not *overly* unrealistic. Maybe in their consultation that talk to someone who *can* lipread side of mouth?

I'm happy that there is a show on TV that I might be able to relate to.

Sunshine

Not air in Canada Rebecca.

Emmer

It is on ABC Family,

I found you can watch some episodes online with captions at - ABC Family - Switched at Birth - Videos However I do not know if you can view these outside of the US or not.

If/when it comes out on DVD, I will try to remember to post here so that others can also watch it.

society's_child

There's some things about the show that kind of rubs me the wrong way but I won't say why. I'm a hearing person so it's not my place. But I will say that it's a drama geared towards young adults with emphasis on DRAMA, lol.

It is what it is. Despite some groan-inducing moments, I actually kind of like it.

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Sunshine

Not available in Canada. Can watch on YouTube, very hard no captions. Understand all ASL bits lol.

Smithtr

I never heard it I am puzzled it it is sound pretty aware it!

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deafdyke

My hearing friend said she notices that Daphene's voice goes from sounding like my voice to hearing like. Love how everyone mentions it and thinks of me...LOL.

society's_child

The actress that plays Daphne is HOH. Maybe you already knew that, though.

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deafdyke

I did yes.........but I mean one second she has a deaf voice, and the next second she talks like a hearing person?

society's_child

That I cannot explain. To be honest, to me it sounds like she's constantly speaking with a deaf accent. Either that or I'm just not playing close enough attention. :

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Emmer

There are definitely times when I "hear" her as speaking like a hearie. This seems to be when she is really mad. I do not know if I just hear it less or if she does it less. I think it would be like any actor using an accent not their original language.

Sunshine

I read she put deaf accent on, her real voice hearie.

KittenEyez05

Wirelessly posted

There is also a dream sequence where she uses a hearie voice.

StevieMont927

She grew up hearing and speaks like a hearie. She puts on a deaf accent when she plays Daphne.

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naisho

TV shows have never been able to have 100% accuracy behind the characters for fictional shows.

Yeah, I hear people saying that the show isn't the same as real life.
I say this to you: many shows have incorrect impersonations of someone in real life.

Blind people, it shows them as disabled or weak, unable to take care of themselves, need help for life. Not true.
Clowns get shown as scary or weirdo people on some shows. Not true.
Black people get shown as poor or no money, ghetto, gangsters. Not true for all of them.
Gay/lesbian characters get shown as high pitched voice, wear funny clothes and sometimes nerdy, looking very weird or getting beat up by people. Not true. In real life I've met gay/lesbian/bi who are completely normal and don't act like that at all.

TV just can't be perfect. There may be reason why it can't.
One show on air right now has a near-perfect character in disability.
In AMC's Breaking Bad, Walter Jr is shown to have Cerebal Palsy. In real life, the actor has CP and is normal as he is in the show as in reality.

KittenEyez05

Wirelessly posted

I think over all ABC is doing a pretty good job.

Emmer

That is actually Bay's voice when she talks in the dream.

Shoshana

can watch on HULU . com with captions, all shows

also, I am a very good lip reader and sometimes people think im hearing because of it--no lip reading it not 100% or perfect and can confuse a lot but think of like this, when hearing people aquire language they learn diffrent sounds and however diffrent speach stuff is (hated speach!) anyways, for me growing up (I will not speak for all Deaf people since it varries from person to person) when I was growing up and I learn diffrent words and speach, it wasent as much about sound as learning the words on the mouth. People as me all time how I learn to lip read, and I ask how they learn to listen. People adapt to what works for them.

As far as the show--there was one time she was looking directly at someone and didnt catch any of it and ran off--this demonstrated the fustration and I liked that because IT HAPPENS!

Lip reading is not always right and its a lot of work, fustrating which is why I appreciate people signing

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SHOSHANA

society's_child

How does one learn to speak with a deaf accent? I guess there's coaches for that...

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dogmom

my understanding is she has Meniere's

society's_child

say what? I need to Google that.

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Jazzberry

Yeah, I suspect that the folks that go off to Hollywood to become voice coaches to the stars may be a little better at their jobs and know a few more tricks than the average grade school speech therapist.

Mateo

My younger sister mentioned this one to me, she said he's the kid from "sandlot II" everyone called "fingers" and yes she thinks he's very cute. and he's from a show while back "the deaf family", i didn't like it too much, kinda too sitcom-ish for my taste.

PS watch on HULU.com they've got the CC

DeafRaptor

I like the show! I agree some hearies may see the show and get the idea that deaf/hh people are able to get 100% from lip-reading (I suck at it), but then most had that idea before the show, so I don't mind too much. I really appreciate that it had scenes to demonstrates some of the frustrations we deal with, since they can and do happen and hearing people are better off being aware of that. In fact, there was a lot that they protrayed that I really appreciated, maybe it will make my interactions with hearies (who have watched the show) just a little bit easier. It may have a lot of drama (I don't watch a lot of drama shows), but it has a lot that I can relate to, so I don't mind too much. I really like Daphne as I feel like I can really connect with her, although it is like I grew up deaf with the Kennishes before someone was there to advocate for me.

pinecone

Covert Affairs does an excellent job portraying a blind character in a very positive light. The actor is sighted but did extensive research and worked with an organization for the blind. I like that the show isn't about him being blind but more about how he is a bad ass who works for the CIA

KarissaMann05

I think that show is pretty fantastic and they did great job on that. Of course, it won't be prefect, but come on, you should appreciate their best work!

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Kalista

If you miss to see the Switched at Birth, go to hulu.com to catch up these show. It will be next new season in January 2012. Sean Berdy is fabulous actor !!