For Minnesota's Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Wearing Masks Is Another Barrier to Communication

Health officials' recommendations that masks be worn in public to limit the spread of coronavirus creates an additional burden for the deaf or hard of hearing community in Minnesota and elsewhere, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . A recent study in the Hearing Review indicated that a simple mask can reduce a voice by 3 to 4 decibels, while the N95 masks medical workers employ can reduce it by nearly 12 decibels. Seniors can be particularly impacted, as they are more likely to have hearing loss as well as become seriously ill from coronavirus. Hennepin County (Minn.) Medical Center audiologist Janet Hansen adds that the hectic environment of hospitals, the noise of medical equipment, and tired patients compound hearing difficulties. Darlene Zangara, executive director of the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing, says mouth visibility is essential for people who wear hearing aids, read lips, or use American Sign Language. "When you have a mask on, you can't lip read," she notes. "There's been no real adjustments made to help communicate unless they had personal experiences with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. So it's been very frustrating." Alternatives that may mitigate this barrier include making masks with a clear plastic cover over the mouth, or shirts with text that explain their hearing disability.