Speechreading

A communication method that relies on observing visual and contextual cues, primarily the movements of a speakers lips, face, and body, to understand spoken language. Speechreading is used by many d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals as a supplement to other communication methods such as sign language or hearing aids. It is inherently limited, as only about 30-40% of spoken language sounds are visible on the lips, making context and familiarity with the speaker important. In videoconferencing, speechreading is particularly challenging due to poor lighting, lack of eye contact, low video resolution, and small video tiles that make facial movements difficult to discern.