Communicating While Wearing a Mask

Wearing a facemask is currently mandatory. This can present difficulties communicating for everyone, but particularly for people suffering hearing loss.

The consensus among clients suffering hearing loss is that the facemask prevents them from reading lips and facial expressions.

Communication Tips

So what are some effective communication tips if someone is suffering from hearing loss and relies on nonverbal communication to hear or understand information?

We could try speaking louder and clearer and use miming and gesturing in addition to speech.

We could use a pen and paper and communicate in writing or use a speech to text app.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services advises that you may remove your mask if removing it is necessary when communicating with someone who is hard of hearing.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids will make sounds louder and clearer for you so that you can hear the person you are talking to.

Hearing aids can help you hear and understand information when you are talking to your family and friends.

You may:

·            Buy hearing aids privately (this can be costly);

·            Receive free pensioner hearing aids if you are a pensioner; or
·            Be entitled to WorkSafe hearing aids (paid for by WorkSafe) if you worked in a noisy environment (you may also be entitled to compensation for noise induced hearing loss).

 

Contact Us

We can help you receive hearing aids privately, free hearing aids as a pensioner or lodge a claim for you to receive WorkSafe hearing aids.

Please contact us on 03 8650 8500 for a free discussion regarding hearing aids.