Auditory Processing Disorder and Masks

[gingerandsmall]

I have ASD and auditory processing disorder. I can only understand people who speak really clearly and I use lip reading a lot to understand what people are saying. Recently, I've had a few embarrassing encounters where people with masks or visors on in shops etc have tried to make small talk with me and I have no idea what they've said. In the moment, I'm not able to say that I can't understand them. I need a non-verbal way to communicate to people that I'm not intentionally being rude if I don't respond, I just can't tell what they're saying. Does anyone have any inspired solutions?

Put headphones in, smile inanely, keep moving.

(Only half joking, I hate supermarkets so focus on moving as fast as possible.)

That's difficult @gingerandsmall. I know what you mean, I find it hard to understand people when I cant see them.
Do you have a sunflower lanyard? Many people wouldnt understand what it meant but you could attach a card saying "I have a hidden disability. Please speak clearly"
Or whatever you feel is the right message. And show people the message when needed.

If you would be happy carrying a card you could get a sunflower lanyard and put a card on it saying you need to lip read. Auditory processing disorder might not be well known so you could just say you have hearing problems. This card might also be useful if you wish someone to remove their mask so you can understand them, which you are allowed to do it you need to communicate.

I have autism too. Masks are such a pain to try and listen to people through!

I avoid shops as much as possible, use self checkouts where I can (I use scan as you shop for at Tesco, rarely have to talk to anyone)

It's so embarrassing when you have to say "pardon" multiple times because you just can't understand what people are saying. And that's without masks!

There are the sunflower lanyards, I don't use them, despite having them at home, I'm only recently diagnosed and don't feel it affects me enough to use one. (2 of my kids also have autism, which is why I have the lanyards.)

I just hope this is over with soon!

I tried headphones for a while but there was the odd person who thought I was being rude and decided that they needed to talk at me until I responded. It's difficult too in that if I can predict what someone's going to say (price of shopping etc) I can understand them so want to hear, but if it's small talk, I have no hope!

I have very good hearing but, having grown up with a deaf parent who lipreads, find it very difficult to understand speech if I can see a person but not see their lips. (Yes, I know it's strange).

My default response is just to smile and point to my ears and then people presume I am deaf. Probably not ideal, but interested if there is any better way to go about it!