COVID-19 “new normal” poses challenges for those with hearing loss

Woman cups ear to hear better | HeardThat

Social distancing, face masks, and other protective barriers are no longer a novel sight – they are the new normal. 

While these adaptations are now required in most public places to protect against the spread of COVID-19, they do pose a new set of challenges for certain populations. Specifically, those with hearing loss have experienced a host of new challenges when it comes to communicating and socializing in a pandemic world. 

Let’s uncover these issues and a few ways we can improve our hearing experiences now and in the future.  

Face masks and hearing loss

Face masks are used to prevent the spread of potentially contaminated water droplets from escaping the nose and mouth.

Sadly, while they help prevent the spread of germs, these face coverings can make hearing more difficult for those with hearing loss. Masks muffle speech, making it difficult to hear clearly. They also eliminate the ability to lip read or use other facial clues to decipher speech.

Face masks can also cause issues when wearing hearing aids. For some, the mask’s ear loops interfere with the behind-the-ear hearing devices. Many find the masks tug at the tubing of the device or pull out cochlear implants when removing the mask.

How to improve your hearing experience with face masks:

  • Ask others to speak slower with clearer enunciation when wearing a face mask.

  • To wear a mask with hearing aids, find a mask with fabric ties or an extender that fits behind the ears rather than one with elastic loops. These are less likely to interfere with a hearing aid and don’t put pressure on the ears.

  • If you regularly care for someone with hearing loss who relies on lip-reading, consider using a transparent face shield instead of a mask.

  • Consider using a captioning app, like Google’s Live Transcribe, that can caption what others are saying in real-time. 

  • Use body language, written communication, or find new ways to describe what you’re saying if the message isn’t coming across.

  • Decrease background noise whenever possible to help improve the clarity of speech.

 

Social distancing or isolation and hearing loss

According to the CDC, social distancing is one of the best defenses we have against the spread of COVID-19. From standing in line at the grocery store to doctor’s office visits, keeping our distance now feels like a simple habit.

But, for those with a hearing impairment, this extra distance between us makes a big impact on the ability to hear properly. This can be made even more difficult with the use of face masks, especially in public areas with distracting background noise.  

Living through social isolation with hearing loss also poses new problems. Many people struggle to hear properly through video conferencing tools as they work from home, or find it difficult to rely on phone communication alone. 

How to improve your hearing experience while social distancing or isolating:

  • Reach out to family, your human resources department, or your audiologist if you are struggling with finding ways to communicate online.

  • Use closed captioning where available.

  • When meeting others while social distancing, choose locations where background noise is low.

  • Use HeardThat to make conversations clearer, even with the added distance between speakers. 

Protective plexiglas barriers and hearing loss

In an attempt to block the spread of coronavirus in public areas, many businesses have resorted to using protective plexiglas barriers. These are commonly seen in areas like check-out counters where there is a necessary face-to-face interaction between customers and employees. 

While these barriers may offer an added level of protection between people, they can make hearing more difficult. 

How to improve your hearing experience with plexiglas barriers:

  • Ask others to speak more slowly and with more enunciation. 

  • Consider using a captioning app like Google Live Transcribe if you continue to have difficulty understanding between the barrier. 

Outdoor socializing and hearing loss

In an attempt to slowly return to our normal dining and socializing habits, many restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are offering outdoor patio seating. The CDC advises that socially-distanced outdoor dining may offer a reduced risk of spreading COVID-19 than indoor dining. 

Outdoor dining, however, can pose hearing challenges for those with impairments as traffic, construction, and other city sounds can increase background noise.

How to improve your hearing experience when socializing outdoors:

  • Choose to meet at restaurants or cafes with a secluded patio away from busy main streets. 

  • Select a table in a corner to reduce the noise from other tables around you. 

  • Visit restaurants outside of peak hours to limit the number of other diners. 

New technology for the new normal

The coronavirus pandemic has greatly shifted our normal ways of life. As we adapt to a new normal, we are learning more about how we can make life more accessible for those with hearing loss.

HeardThat is a smartphone hearing assistive app that works with your existing devices to make communication clearer. Ready to try HeardThat’s technology for yourself? Sign up to be a tester today.

Singular Hearing