Updated January 01, 2014.

Not all deaf people use sign language. There are different types of interpreters to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing people with varied needs. Interpreters are available to meet the needs of sign language users, deaf-blind people, people who communicate solely through lipreading and speech and deaf people who use cued speech.

1. Sign Language Interpreting

When most people think about interpreters, the first thing that comes to mind is sign language interpreting. Most interpreting needs are filled by sign language interpreters. To become a sign language interpreter, sign language must be mastered and interpreting skills learned.

Sign language interpreters must take frequent breaks while interpreting, or they risk developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

2. Deaf-Blind Interpreting

Have you ever seen interpreting for deaf-blind people? The few times I have witnessed it, I noticed that the interpreter signed in to the deaf-blind person's hands. Another word for deaf-blind interpreting is tactile interpreting.

3. Oral Interpreting

Oral interpreters do not sign; they silently repeat with their mouths what they hear. They help deaf people who do not know or use sign language rely on lipreading. When she was younger, my mother worked for awhile as an oral interpreter.

4. Cued Speech Transliteration

Cued speech is not sign language, but it is visual. It makes the sounds of speech visual through handshapes placed around the face as people talk. This helps deaf people distinguish sounds. Cued speech transliterators must be skilled in cued speech and have the skills to interpret.