The only difference is that the 44-year-old hair stylist is profoundly deaf.

As could be expected from a mother of three, she goes to great lengths to listen to customers' problems.

She has lip read her entire life and can even do it backwards as she looks in the salon's mirrors while her client sits in the chair.

"Sometimes I find it hard to communicate with men who have moustaches, I have to tell them to open their mouths more when they talk," Ms Maunder told the Port News.

After doing hair for 28 years she still enjoys her job.

She started in Tamworth when a friend of her mother's employed her.

Brian Condon, known to some in Tamworth as the "scissors wizard", taught her from 5pm to 10pm of a night after the day's work.

The lessons also included training sessions in front of the mirror on how to communicate to customers using very little speech.

At the age of 19 she was winning multiple awards as a third-year apprentice.

Debbie Brereton from Zannes Hair and Nail Salon, where Ms Maunder works, sometimes helps her communicate with customers but it does not happen often.

"Robyn is an incentive to young people not to give up and achieve their goals," Mrs Brereton said.

Ms Maunder has been working at the salon since January. Since her arrival her two workmates have been to a sign language class.

"If we don't quite get it (what she is signing) she spells it out for us," Mrs Brereton said.