I think the point that TX is making is that deaf lipread anyway. Very few children make it to pre-school or K without some mode of communication. And, unless you have very superficial loss, almost everyone who wears an aid is lipreading to some degree. I do it unconsciously quite a lot.
I don't think you can get through k to 12 on it alone without special classes, but improvement of it is helpful since you are going to be doing it for the rest of your life.
Every tool is a needed tool.
If the point of the thread is that sign should be taught I agree with it. But, it is still not going to solve the problem of the general population not knowing sign so you are going to need the lipreading, like it or not.
