Consideration for Hard of Hearing
In the News
I completely understand the need for people to wear masks but as someone with a hearing impairment who experienced essential contact with someone this week wearing a mask I wanted to give my opinion on how you can make it easier.
You may not realise how difficult it is for people that are heard of hearing that rely on lip reading who then can't lip read if you are wearing a mask so please speak up a lot more and use hand movements too (you don't need to be able to sign but some hand movements are helpful). Sounds are so much quieter when wearing a mask. Also consider getting masks that have clear panels in them too.
I cant remember where i seen but someone was making these
https://www.designboom.com/design/student-creates-transparent-masks-deaf-hard-of-hearing-04-08-2020/
Yes I've seen them but they can be quite expensive so people don't buy them and using things like fabric masks don't always help but needs must at the moment. I just wanted to make people aware of the difficulties masks can cause for people that rely on lip reading.
rararachel it’s not just hard of hearing unless I can see people’s facial expressions i can’t take that conversation seriously.
I think you have come up with a brilliant idea - even if they are only clear around the mouth area. Patent it!
My husband has a hearing impediment and for years just assumed it was selective hearing. He has aids but refuses to wear them so I constantly repeat myself. A mask with a perspex front really wouldn’t help him as he can’t lip read.
It might not help you but the OP is simply saying what could help a lot of people with hearing difficulties right now, I think it's useful information, I've seen the masks with the clear area around the mouth and think it's brilliant, for some people that's the difference between being able to communicate and not.
Pjran I don't wear them at home and it drives me other half insane. I am a bit of a lazy listener too and have become customised to lip reading, subtitles erc. I hated my hearing aids when I first got them and still do. I will never get used to the noise of my car engine, how loud the indicators are and the tube when I go to London.
I just significantly underestimated how much I had become used to lip reading until I wasn't able to do it.
rararachel my husband has several pairs and insists they’re uncomfortable and distorts background noise. I keep saying I’ll buy a wipe board and write on there as sometimes it’s frustrating repeating myself. Then I have to be fairer and remind myself I’m not perfect (almost though). Haha.
I have earing aids in both ears and find it hard to wear a mask with them in as they pull on earing aids
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