As we gear up for Fall 2020, much of the discussion has been centered upon the use of masks to keep individuals safe from COVID-19. For children and adults with hearing loss, however, cloth masks can be a nightmare. While I certainly do not pretend to have the answers, I thought I’d put together a brief overview of some factors for parents, school administrators, and related service providers to consider.
Photo Credit: Google Images
The way I see it, there are two major challenges with wearing a cloth mask. One, it removes the visual component that so many deaf and hard of hearing individuals rely on: the mouth. For those who use ASL (American Sign Language), the mouth is critical: facial expressions and mouth morphemes (think: mouth shapes) can provide meaning or even alter the meaning of a message (for example, pursed lips can mean “working hard”). No access to the mouth also means no ability to lipread, which is a skill that many deaf and hard of hearing individuals rely on when communicating. Secondly, masks dampen (muffle) the sound signal. Some studies suggest the acoustic signal can be reduced by anywhere from 3 to almost 12 decibels. Add in social distancing, background noise, and environmental distractions, and you’ve got a recipe for miscommunication. This means that kiddos who are already working incredibly hard to hear and understand spoken language in ideal listening conditions are now working even harder, resulting in major auditory fatigue.
One solution to this issue is a mask with a clear panel. While this can help solve problem number one (visual access to the mouth), we are still left with a dampened speech signal. Clear masks also introduce other challenges, however, including fogging (some have found that Dawn dish soap helps with this, though I haven’t tried it myself) and glare. In my opinion, while masks with a clear panel are a more ideal option than regular cloth masks, they still present challenges that make them far from optimal.
Some are turning to face shields to help provide visual access to the mouth and to reduce the dampening of the speech signal. Supporters of face shields also argue that they protect the eyes from COVID-19 particles and suggest that those who use face shields touch their face less often than those who use masks. However, there seems to be limited research indicating that face shields are adequate in protecting individuals from exposure to COVID-19. According to the CDC’s website:
“It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings. Some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected. If face shields are used without a mask, they should wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended.” (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html)
I wish I could say I have solutions—I don’t. No one does, to be perfectly honest. What’s important is that the public becomes more aware of the challenges masks present to the Deaf and hard of hearing community and that these challenges are strongly considered if and when students with hearing loss return to the classroom.
What are your thoughts about cloth masks, clear masks, and face shields? Comment below!
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