Masks everywhere...what about those who have a hearing impairment

[Greysparkles]

Just that really.
I have a hearing loss in 1 ear, and have to wear a mask at work. I never realised how much I rely on lip reading!!

It's difficult and mine is only a mild impairment. I really feel for those who will truly struggle if this comes into force in more environments

I'm concerned about this. I rely a lot on lipreading but can cope by asking people to speak up. But I think it will cause a lot of difficulties for some people. Not sure what the solution is though.

Just going to be honest, this isn’t something I see as a priority. Wearing a mask is more important.

I think a number of people are about to discover how much some people rely on being able to see someone's mouth when they speak.

I don't see anyway round it but the number of people in the UK with some degree of hearing loss is 6.5million. It's going to be a problem just because of the sheer numbers.

Just going to be honest, this isn’t something I see as a priority. Wearing a mask is more important.

Charming.

I guess the best you could hope for is some sort of clear mask as the standard, do those exist?

I am deaf in one ear and really struggle, it took at.least 3 tries to understand the pharmacist earlier and she really had to shout.

It's difficult but necessary

Just going to be honest, this isn’t something I see as a priority. Wearing a mask is more important. fair enough, perhaps you can share tips on how you cope with your hearing loss and not being able to understand people when they're wearing masks?

I don't think we are trying to say wearing a mask isn't important. Just that it is going to cause huge difficulties for some people

Also hearing impaired, I’m quite surprised you didn’t already know how much you lip read! I think a lot of people who aren’t hearing impaired are going to discover that though!

Just going to be honest, this isn’t something I see as a priority. Wearing a mask is more important.

So you are prepared to prevent the Deaf/deaf communities from communicating with people then ?

I use lip reading to reinforce what I hear
Even with hearing aids I struggle to make sense without being able to see someone
I can manage certain phones if they have very loud volume
I’m concerned about masks for these reasons - might even mean I can’t do my job

Just going to be honest, this isn’t something I see as a priority. Wearing a mask is more important.

Charming.

Be fair, most people want a level playing field for all, but when push comes to shove they will prioritise their/their families safety. ‘Charming’ but true.

DH will struggle, he wears bilateral hearing aids but def relies on seeing people's mouths. He catches the bus to work but I guess doesn't need to talk to many people. If he needed to wear one in the office he'd struggle and thankfully our friends is on pharmacy duty

I don't know why I'm surprised given disabled people are routinely thrown under the bus on this site.

Not just hearing loss, I have two DC who are autistic and won't wear masks because of sensory issues. One of them had a hospital appointment recently and was asked to put on a mask. He started off a bit twitchy which built up to him being massively freaked out, started shouting he couldn't breathe, ended up tearing it off, and was then was inconsolable which included hiding under a table sobbing. If masks become compulsory in more public spaces (e.g., shops) then I hope children are exempt.

From a communication viewpoint, it's horrible. I am profoundly deaf and wear hearing aids (well, waiting for the clinic to open again to fix the damn aids). It's going to be paper & pen or people speaking into Google Voice type to make any sense of it all.

Having said that; I will take the masks if it means we can open up the country with reduced risk.

I have a serious hearing impairment and lipread. It's going to be more annoying for the people I ask to repeat themselves than it is for me.

People not dying trumps my right to be able to hear. We will find a way around it.

@BankofNook how old are they? Do you catch public transport much? Is def look into getting a letter from a Dr if so and if they're over 5ish

I don't know why I'm surprised given disabled people are routinely thrown under the bus on this site.

People are often shy to impede their own comfort to meet the comfort of others, so expecting them to risk their health/lives (potentially) to do so is probably unrealistic.

I’m profoundly deaf. I ask people to write things down. I’d rather that than COVID.

I'm not deaf but use lip reading at work quite often, more than you'd think. It's an essential skill in my job.

They're 11 and nearly 7. We usually use public transport when DH is away as he takes the car but luckily he's working from home for the foreseeable future so buses are not an immediate issue. However DC1 has several hospital appointments coming up over the next couple of months as a result of that initial appointment which is going to be an issue.

The WI in our village has been fund raising by making masks, and this week has added a line of masks which have a clear window over the mouth so that you can see the wearer's mouth - good for lip reading and for smiles.

I haven't bought one myself but this is what I mean
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/818146349/face-mask-with-clear-vinyl-window-lip

Those masks look good, I wonder if they steam up though?

I donated a massive sheet of clear vinyl to a lady who is making masks in exchange for donations to a local hospice. She's started doing ones with vinyl over the lips for people who work with those who are deaf or HOH.