Which factor does NOT influence the difficulty of lipreading?

Hearing ability does not directly influence the difficulty of lipreading. Lipreading primarily relies on visual cues, such as the movements of the speaker's lips, facial expressions, and body language, rather than auditory input. Individuals who are trained in lipreading can often interpret speech visually, regardless of their hearing ability.

In contrast, the speaker or talker influences lipreading difficulty through their clarity of speech, facial expressions, and accent, which can all affect how easily a lipreader can interpret what is being said. The message itself also plays a role; some words or phrases may be visually similar or ambiguous, making them harder to distinguish. Additionally, environmental factors, like lighting, distance, and background noise, can complicate lipreading efforts, while good visibility and an unobstructed view facilitate comprehension. Thus, while hearing ability may impact communication overall, it does not specifically alter the fundamental challenges associated with lipreading.