For those that are deaf and hard of hearing, the coronavirus pandemic has presented new challenges to communication, including a lack of sign-language interpreters during public briefings and the use of masks, which obscure the mouth. Despite the rush to make masks with a clear panel so that the lips are visible, some in the deaf community have expressed concern about their functionality, according to an article on Yahoo News.
Some have said that the masks can fog up while being used, and others have said that lip reading presents enough of a challenge, even without a mask, that the clear masks probably won’t make a significant difference in understanding.
Many deaf advocates are recommending greater use of sign language, which can be a safer way to communicate during a pandemic since there are no droplets released during its use.
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Source: Yahoo News
The deaf have different needs than those of us who are hearing impaired. I need the clear panel masks to speech read, and to present the opinion that the see through masks will make no difference – well, that is just plain wrong. At work, people speaking to me are lifting their masks – defeating the purpose of wearing them quite a bit, don’t you think ? Please do not take the opinion of persons who have an agenda of requiring more interpreters over clear see through face coverings, needed by the hearing impaired community. We need both – not one over the other.