Tips & Tricks for Dealing with Face Masks & Hearing Loss
Mask-wearing in public has become the norm thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. For individuals with hearing loss, this presents a difficult problem. Many people with hearing loss rely on lip reading or facial cues in addition to their hearing aids. Masks cover the nose and mouth, making lip-reading impossible. Here are a few tips to help overcome this additional communication barrier.
Meet virtually when you can. If you know you’ll be having an important conversation, consider meeting someone via video chat. That way, you know they won’t be wearing a mask.
If you have a hard time understanding someone, tell them. It can be awkward or difficult to explain you have a hearing loss, but if you don’t tell your conversation partner, they can’t try to accommodate you. Explain that you have a hearing loss and may need some repetition. It’s also helpful to advise them to face you when they’re speaking, rather than talking to you from across the room.
Try a voice-to-text transcription app on your phone. Google Live Transcribe is one Android app that transcribes speech. Simply ask the other person to speak, and your phone will write out what they’re saying in real time. If you have an iPhone, you can try Otter, another transcription app.
Consider a remote microphone. A remote microphone is a small device that can be clipped to someone’s shirt. Some remote microphones are disguised as pens for even more discretion. Simply speak into the device, and the signal will be sent directly to your hearing aids. This hearing aid accessory is very helpful for noisy situations, or at times when you can’t rely on facial cues.
Purchase clear or windowed face masks and give them to the people you speak with regularly. If someone you communicate with in person on a regular basis, such as a coworker, is very difficult for you to hear, consider giving them a clear face mask and asking them to wear it around you. Here is an example of a well-reviewed, sturdy clear reusable face mask.