See-Through Masks Benefit Deaf
On April 3, the CDC recommended that all Americans wear a mask when out in public. Deaf and Hard of Hearing people often rely on lipreading, which can be a challenge behind a mask. Clear masks, or see-through masks, solve that issue. But currently, online see-through masks are on back order until the middle of May.
Because of this, we have been so grateful to the many people in Michigan who are making see-through masks to benefit the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and to benefit ASL interpreters. It has been a joy to be part of this giving community in which we live and work. The masks project has been an unexpected blessing.
Because we have been given so much, we thought we would give back and provide some of our thoughts about how to use a see-through mask. This is important because so much of American Sign Language is not just viewing the hand movements. It includes mouth morphemes, lip-reading, the mouthing of fingerspelled words and more, all things that a traditional mask makes almost impossible. We hope these tips are helpful! Let us know at info@deafhhs.org if you have a comment.
Please note that we believe that not everyone needs to wear a see-through mask. Our recommendation would be to consider who needs a see-through mask for communication to happen effectively. So, both the interpreter and the Deaf client need a view of each other’s mouths, and thus see-through masks are necessary for both people. Hard of Hearing people need a view of a healthcare provider’s mouth, but the Hard of Hearing person doesn’t necessarily need a see-through mask themselves. They can wear a regular cloth covering, while they really need their provider to have the clear mask for effective communication. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns regarding these masks. If you are in need of a mask, please contact Jessica Oliver, Advocacy Specialist at advocacy@deafhhs.org or by videophone at 616-828-0186.
Tips on Communicating When Wearing a See-Through Mask
- Get the Deaf person’s attention before speaking. A wave or another visual signal is best.
- Look directly at the person when talking. Don’t turn your back.
- Speak clearly without overexaggerating words or shouting.
- Always face a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person.
- Make eye contact.
- Try not to look away.
- Make sure your face is not in a shadow (do not sit or stand directly in front of a light source).
- Keep your distance (ideally 3-6 feet).
- Be patient: according to the National Association for the Deaf, “On average, even the most skilled lipreaders understand only 25% of what is said to them, and many individuals understand far less. Lipreading is most often used as a supplement to the use of residual hearing, amplification, or other assistive listening technology. Because lipreading requires some guesswork, very few deaf or hard of hearing people rely on lipreading alone for exchanges of important information.”
A Few Tips on Mask Care
- Masks should be worn with the same side always toward your face.
- Use a permanent marker and mark the inward-facing side of your mask with an X.
- Wash the mask with HOT water after each use.
- When out in public, at a medical appointment, etc, do not remove your mask.
- Never share your mask with other people.
- When not using the mask, keep it in a safe and clean place.
- To avoid window fogging, smear with shaving cream and wipe off with a clean paper towel.
The Terms We Use
From https://www.hsdc.org/services/deaf-101/
The word “deaf” can have different meanings depending on whether or not the D is capitalized. The word “deaf” with a lowercase d is a general term that includes all people with significantly reduced hearing. A person who is capital-D “Deaf” considers themselves part of the Deaf community and identifies with Deaf culture, which has its roots in American Sign Language (ASL).
ASL is not a gestural form of English, nor is it a universal language used by Deaf people around the world. It is a distinct language that uses visual cues, with its own unique grammatical rules.
“Hard of hearing” is generally used to describe people with a mild hearing reduction and access to some spoken language fluency. Late-deafened individuals are those that had a significant reduction in hearing after childhood. Some hard of hearing and late-deafened people identify as Deaf, and some do not.
More Resources
https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org/resource/deaf-community-introduction