Beyond the unprecedented threat to public health, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged nearly all aspects of our lives, including one of the most basic – how we communicate.

No More Lip Reading

In particular, social distancing and the use of facemasks makes it difficult to hear other speakers – by about 30%, according to studies of people with normal hearing.

But if you’re one of the 48 million Americans with hearing loss, understanding people, when they’re wearing masks, can be nearly impossible. And it’s not just about muffled voices – masks obscure the ability to read lips and facial cues, while social distancing means you can’t get closer to hear better. Dr. Eric Branda, Director of Applied Audiological Research for Signia USA, offers recommendations on how people who have earing issues cope with the pandemic.