HOW TO HEAR BETTER Some of these may seem obvious, but it will help to review: 1. PAY ATTENTION. To become a good speechreader, it is important that you watch and listen constantly. Drifting into thoughts of your own will make it much more difficult. 2. MIX WITH OTHERS. Don't withdraw from others because of fear of miscommunication. Stay in the thick of things. 3. DON'T BECOME DISCOURAGED. Speechreading isn't easy, but neither was learning to walk. There will be good days and bad days. PRACTICE AND PERSIST, and it will become easier because you will become better. Being able to understand what others say is just as important as being able to walk. 4. DON'T TRY TO SPEECHREAD EVERY MOVEMENT. Look for key words in a sentence and make an intelligent guess as to the idea being expressed. 5. ANTICIPATE what might be said next. The mind is quicker than speech. Be active, mentally looking ahead. 6. READ. Keep abreast of happenings in the world. Current events are the pot from which conversations are developed. 7. USE THE LIGHT. Let the light be on the face of the person with whom you are conversing. 8. BUILD SPEECHREADING ENDURANCE. Don't be concerned if your eyes tire during speechreading practice. The time will gradually increase before fatigue begins. 9. DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY. Don't put pressure on yourself to speechread. Relax. Tension decreases performance. 10. DEVELOP KINESTHETIC AWARNESS, which is forming the words you see within your own mouth. The greater the kinesthetic awarness, the greater the likelihood that thoughts will be recognized.