Today at the used record/game store, we had three deaf teenagers come in to shop. They were two guys and one girl and they were all interested in the Playstation 2 games.
Communication between my coworkers and the kids was at times like playing a puzzle. Challenges were overcome with a combination of body language, notes written on scrap paper, and interpreting their attempts at sounding out words.
For example, the girl held up a PS2 case at me, underlined the words "Playstation 2" on the cover with her index finger, the held her thumb and index finger about two inches apart, and said something that started with an "M" and had four syllables in it. After about a second or two, I had an "Aha!" moment and asked, "Memory card?" I hurried behind the counter, grabbed one and showed it to her. She nodded, but ended up not buying the card because it was a little spendy.
It was interesting watching the group quickly sign to each other as they debated their choices of PS2 games. I did notice that the girl wanted to get the World Championship Series of Poker, except we only had it on Xbox.
My coworker Jackie handled most of their needs because they were doing a trade-in, while I watched them to be there when they needed something. One of the boys pulled out a copy of Playboy Mansion looked at me, grinned and pointed at it. Then he laughed and waved his hands as if to say, "No, I'm not really going to buy it."
Jackie was very patient and helpful, doing the kids' trades and giving them the right amount of trade and cash, all while using notes and hand signs to communicate. It's rather difficult trying to explain how much someone gets for trading in certain games, and what our return policy is on pieces of scrap paper. When the kids left looking pretty satisfied, the guy who joked with me gave Jackie a big hug. I think that made her day.