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

[Hercwasonaroll]

I have hearing loss hut gave up with hearing aids as they didn't make speaking clearer. I rely completely on lip reading. Most people don't realise when they meet me. I have found it more and more difficult to communicate with people. The screens in shops block sound, masks block sound. I'm supposed to be teaching students with masks and I'm more worried about that than getting the virus.

[Flusteredcustard]

What do people think about the ideas here www.ideasforears.org.uk/blog/masks-with-a-clear-panel/

[WeAllHaveWings]

@Mnthrowaway20202

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

Agree, I have poor hearing due to severe tinnitus, I find it difficult enough without a people wearing mask, but mask are a health necessity now.

[RB68]

The masks with windows do steam up unless rubbed with a bit of liquid soap, windex or tiny bit of oil like baby oil or olive oil. But would be good if they became more standard but obv they are not as easy to make yourself

[Happymum12345]

I can’t talk very clearly & I write things down now.

[DoctorHildegardLanstrom]

DP needs to wear a mask for work (also now for transport) I have gotten him one of those masks with the plastic front, as well as a normal one.

I personally think they should be the standard ones.

I don't think people understand how more isolating this new normal is going to be for people with disabilities. For example London Transport have already written to one of my friends who is sight impaired and told him, that they would be unable to help him due to the 2 meter rule, so he has no way of navigating the tube now. Simple things like that are now becoming impossible for certain sections of society

[Namechangeapril20]

I dont have any sort of hearing impairment, but have really struggled in picking up what people are saying while wearing masks, and their speech hasnt been particularly muffled by the masks - I think it's because I cant also see their lips move. So I strongly empathise with anyone who does have any sort of hearing impairment, and relies on lip reading. I did see on Facebook some people making face masks with something see through to try and help with this, so I wonder if that's something that could take off.

[UnholyStramash]

Yes, I’ve been thinking this too. Fortunately (or otherwise!) I’m shielding too (moderate hearing loss) so apart from the people I live with, there won’t be much cause to converse. Yesterday though a nurse was here to take blood and I didn’t have much idea what she was saying due to her mask!

[HeIenaDove]

Would love to see the reactions when the guy who dresses as a 17th century plague doctor in Norfolk boards a bus.

[gumball37]

People are making these.... But obviously most people won't use that kind...

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/&ved=2ahUKEwjsqc6u7-vpAhVImeAKHWqGATQQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw1ul3AX16hT7JFcflSRMg6r" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/&ved=2ahUKEwjsqc6u7-vpAhVImeAKHWqGATQQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw1ul3AX16hT7JFcflSRMg6r

[Seeingadistance]

I was thinking about this today.

My hearing is fine, but I do prefer to see people’s mouths when they’re speaking. I do think that many more people than expected will struggle with communication with masks becoming the norm.

[SudokuBook]

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

So the rights of the disabled can now be shat on for the sake of a virus 999 out of 1000 people don’t have. How nice.

Can you explain why “masks are more important” than the rights of the disabled or are just brainwashed and parroting what you’ve been told?

[JingsMahBucket]

@Greysparkles and others who are hard of hearing: you could just ask the speaker to pull down their mask for a bit (10 — 20 seconds) so they can speak to you at a reasonable distance away. The speaker would likely be glad to have a few fresh breaths of air anyway. :)

[SudokuBook]

My son has autism and sensory issues and he will not be wearing a mask. His well-being is more important to me than random other people. I’d be a pretty shit mother if it didn’t.

[SudokuBook]

I am so surprised on these mask threads how brains washed people are. Jesus wake up people. You’re being played

[HeIenaDove]

Disabled people thrown under the bus as usual.

[JingsMahBucket]

@Seeingadistance

I was thinking about this today.

My hearing is fine, but I do prefer to see people’s mouths when they’re speaking. I do think that many more people than expected will struggle with communication with masks becoming the norm.

I live in a city that made masks mandatory more than a month ago. We’ve all adapted to speaking more loudly to be heard and understood. It’s fine for the most part with people understanding that they may need to repeat themselves once in a while.

[HeIenaDove]

@SudokuBook

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/uk-population-being-fooled-by-government-1-6684939

[Gwenhwyfar]

"use lip reading at work quite often, more than you'd think. It's an essential skill in my job."

Are you a spy?
I wonder what jobs require lip reading for people who are not deaf or hard of hearing.

[saveeno]

I am deaf on the left hand side, totally, and it's not much better on the right either! Result of meningitis when I was 22.

I feel very lucky to have survived that. I will cope with my own mask and those on others. It's all for the common good.

I have survived worse, three months in hospital with meningitis and sepsis, ( they called it septicaemia those days), having to learn to walk again using muscles that were unused etc. etc.

Gotta get on with it really.

[rosiejaune]

I have issues processing speech. Face coverings on others will further impede my comprehension, partly because voices will be muffled, and partly because lips won't be visible.

I am also autistic and can't stand things on my face.

So they screw me over both ways. I too would rather be exposed (not that there is good evidence they make a significant difference anyway). And I've had pneumonia four times already.

Plus this supposed exemption won't work in practice - even if you don't have to prove your eligibility (which many would find impossible), some bus drivers just won't let you on without one, or other passengers will harass you for not wearing one.

[FlemCandango]

I wear hearing aids and glasses. I have been making masks and have found that if they have elastic looped around my ears it makes my my hearing aids pop out and my glasses skew-whiff. I fixed that by making masks with ties but I can't fix the sound issue. I do lip read a bit but mainly I rely on interpretation of the sounds plus facial expression. I will struggle to understand people in masks.

I work with the public as an advisor so it will be a problem if I am back at our public office. I am working from home currently so phone / email is ok I can turn up volume as required and don't need to wear a mask.

So yes it is an issue I am concerned about, we cannot ignore the impact of mask wearing on communication on mm.people like me.

[ineedaholidaynow]

For those saying they would rather get the virus, the masks/face coverings are more to stop you spreading it rather than stop you catching it.

[PyongyangKipperbang]

My mother said that she was grateful that Pa is shielding due to COPD, as he is profoundly deaf and relies on lip reading. Social interaction would be a nightmare for him.

[JingsMahBucket]

@Gwenhwyfar those that work with the public a lot most likely or even someone who manages a lot of people or messages or deliveries. That could be a council worker, a receptionist, the person at the driver’s licence bureaus or an office manager who’s constantly trafficking things between coworkers or departments.

My SIL is a dispatcher for a hauling company. In theory some of her work can be done digitally and remotely but she still has to go into the office a couple times a week and interact with people coming in and out regularly. At that point visual communication is key to get the routes and assignments correct.