We are all adjusting to new ways of communicating during the pandemic. For most people, trying to communicate effectively while wearing a mask, or through virtual meetings, can be difficult on any given day – giving you a glimpse of what it’s like to live with a hearing loss.
Self-isolation and reliance on technology can also increase feelings of isolation for people with hearing loss.
COVID-19 Communication Challenges
Many people with a hearing loss are experiencing compounded feelings of isolation. It’s challenging to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, and especially challenging to manage conference calling with multiple people at once, particularly because there are no visual cues and limited clarity of sound that you would get from a face-to-face meeting.
Masks & Barriers Add Extra Challenge
Face masks and plexiglass barriers add an extra challenge for those with a hearing loss – particularly in noisy environments. What was already often a challenge to clearly discern what someone was saying, is now made extra challenging because voices are more muffled, and there’s no longer the benefit of mouths and facial expressions to aid understanding.
COVID-19 Communication Tips:
- Speak up – let people know that you have hearing difficulties so that they can try and help you understand them better
- Travel with a pen and paper to help ease any communication barriers
If you suspect that you or a loved one may be experiencing a hearing loss, please contact us to book an appointment in Bedfordview or Benoni by calling our office on 011 615 3047 or email candice@cvhaudiology.co.za
Contents of this article originally appeared on https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-covid-19-hearing-loss-communication-challenges-1.5585274
