WEST LAFAYETTE — As wearing facial coverings and masks becomes the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, learning how to communicate effectively while wearing them can be a challenge.
That’s especially true for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, says Shannon Van Hyfte, a clinical associate professor of audiology and director of the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
Wearing facial coverings makes speech signals harder to hear, Van Hyfte says. It also reduces nonverbal cues from facial expressions and the ability to read lips.
For individuals who wear hearing aids, getting a mask to fit properly over their ears also is a challenge, Van Hyfte says. She recommends that they wear a mask with an extender to make sure it fits securely without interfering with the hearing aid.
Van Hyfte, who sees patients regularly and teaches Purdue audiology students how to interact with patients, has the following tips to help with communication in a masked world — especially with those who are hearing-impaired.
Pausing and slowing down. Pausing between sentences while conversing with another person lets the other person keep up — and it allows for better breath support.
Keeping a level volume. While the other person may have trouble hearing and understanding you, Van Hyfte says, raising your voice isn’t necessarily helpful. “It can really degrade the signal of your voice, making it that much harder to hear,” she says. Keeping your voice at a consistent, level volume will make it easier to communicate.
Eliminating background noise. Try to move to a quieter area, away from background noise and distractions, if possible.
Other forms of communication. Van Hyfte suggests that when communicating with someone with a hearing impairment, ask how they’d prefer to communicate. Using an app or pencil and paper can sometimes be easier and more effective.
