British Sign Language | Hearing Ambassadors

Have you ever been watching a heated football match, and when a controversial decision is made, you know exactly what the player is shouting—even though you can’t hear a thing? That, right there, is lipreading in action.

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It might surprise you to know that lipreading (also called speechreading) is a skill we all use, whether we realise it or not. It’s a natural part of how humans communicate, especially in noisy environments like pubs, busy streets, or parties. Our brains cleverly combine what we hear with what we see—the shape of the mouth, the movement of the lips, and facial expressions—to work out what’s being said.

We’ve Taught Ourselves

Most of us haven’t had formal training in lipreading. We just pick it up as we grow and communicate with others. From an early age, we start recognising the visual clues that go with speech. It becomes instinctive—until we try it without sound and realise how tricky it can actually be!

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But Not All Words Can Be Read on the Lips

Here’s the catch: lipreading isn’t perfect. Some words look identical on the lips, even though they sound completely different. That’s because certain sounds are made inside the mouth or throat and don’t change the visible shape of the lips much.

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Take for example:

Pat, bat, and mat – These all look nearly the same when spoken.
Cough, golf, and gone – Not much happening visually here either.
Can and man – Try mouthing them silently in the mirror—they’re hard to tell apart!

This is actually what ventriloquists rely on. They avoid using words with noticeable lip movements and instead focus on sounds that can be disguised. That’s how they “throw” their voice and make it seem like the dummy is doing all the talking.

Lipreading Is a Lifeline for Many

For people with hearing loss, lipreading becomes a vital communication tool. When sound is muffled, distorted, or absent, being able to read the lips, expressions, and gestures of the speaker can make a huge difference. It’s empowering. It brings confidence. And in many cases, it makes communication possible again.

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Can You Improve Your Lipreading?

Absolutely. While we all use some level of lipreading already, taking it further is totally possible—and beneficial. Lipreading classes are available in many countries, often through adult education centres, community colleges, or charities supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

These classes don’t just teach you to recognise mouth shapes. They often include:

Strategies for filling in the blanks
Tips for dealing with common problem sounds
Practice with everyday conversations
Support from others who are also learning

Plus, they’re a great way to meet people and feel less isolated if hearing loss is new to you.

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Other Tips to Boost Your Lipreading

Here are a few more ways to enhance your lipreading skills:

Face the speaker: Make sure you can see their face clearly—good lighting helps.
Ask people to speak clearly, not loudly: Shouting can distort lip movements.
Don’t be afraid to ask for repeats or rephrasing: You’re not alone.
Use context clues: Understanding the topic helps predict words.
Stay relaxed: Tension makes concentration harder.

A Skill Worth Celebrating

Lipreading is an amazing example of how adaptable humans are. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re probably using it every day—and with a bit of focused learning, it can become an even more powerful ally in communication.

If you’re interested in learning more, why not look for a local lipreading class or an online group to join? Your eyes might just become your new ears.

Here is a good place to start: Association of Lipreading Tutors

We have lots more go-to links in our Resource Library

If you’ve recently started to experience hearing loss, you might have come across something called Sign Supported English, or SSE for short. It’s often taught in lipreading and communication classes aimed at adults who’ve lost their hearing later in life. But is SSE a real sign language?

That’s a question that sparks strong opinions—and the answer depends on how you define a “real” sign language.

What Is Sign Supported English?

SSE is not its own language. It’s a communication method that uses signs borrowed from British Sign Language (BSL), but with spoken or written English grammar and word order.

Think of it as English… with signs added for support.

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People who use SSE will usually speak at the same time as they sign, using the structure of English rather than the grammar of BSL, which is a fully-fledged visual language with its own syntax and rules. SSE can be incredibly helpful for people who:

Grew up speaking English
Have acquired deafness later in life
Use hearing aids or cochlear implants
Can still hear some speech sounds
Rely heavily on lipreading

By combining signs with spoken English, SSE can reinforce understanding—especially in noisy environments or when the speaker’s mouth is hard to see.

What Do BSL Users Think?

Many Deaf BSL users would say that SSE is not a real sign language, and they’re right—linguistically speaking.

BSL is a complete, natural language with its own structure, vocabulary, and cultural significance. It’s not just “English on the hands.” Using BSL means thinking visually, using facial expressions as grammar, and following a different word order altogether.

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From that perspective, SSE isn’t a true language, because it doesn’t stand alone. It’s always tethered to English.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not useful or meaningful.

A Bridge for Those With Acquired Deafness

For many people who lose their hearing after childhood, learning BSL can feel like learning a completely foreign language—and that can be overwhelming.

SSE offers a gentle introduction. It helps people stay connected to spoken English while adding visual cues to aid comprehension. It can be especially powerful when used alongside lipreading, giving people multiple ways to piece together meaning in conversation.

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In this way, SSE can serve as a bridge—not just to better communication, but sometimes as a stepping stone toward learning full BSL later on.

Is There an American Equivalent?

Yes, there is! In the United States, the equivalent system is called Signed Exact English (SEE) or sometimes Manually Coded English (MCE).

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Like SSE, SEE is not a true sign language. It uses signs from American Sign Language (ASL) but follows English grammar and word order. It was originally developed to support the teaching of English literacy in Deaf children, but it’s also used by some people with acquired hearing loss or those who want to support spoken English with signs.

ASL, like BSL, is a complete visual language in its own right. And just like in the UK, many ASL users do not consider SEE to be a “real” sign language, although they may acknowledge its usefulness in certain contexts.

So… Is SSE Real?

If by “real” we mean a complete and natural language, then no—SSE is not. But if we mean a powerful, practical tool that helps people communicate and connect, then absolutely yes.

At Hearing Ambassadors, we believe in supporting every kind of communication that helps people feel included, confident, and heard—whether that’s BSL, SSE, lipreading, or a mix of all three.

If you or someone you love is exploring new ways to communicate after hearing loss, don’t be put off by labels. The best method is the one that works for you.

Check out more of our articles on sign language in our Hear Hub