Face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) help protect us from the coronavirus, but they add communication challenges for everyone, especially people with hearing loss. That's because:

- Face masks lower the volume of a person's speech and slightly garble it.

- Face shields, social distancing and plastic barriers further muffle or reduce sound.

- Face mask ear loops may tug on your hearing aids and cause other problems.

- You can't rely on lip-reading clues and other facial movements that help you understand speech and emotion.

Face masks lower the volume of a person's voice, and they muffle speech clarity. Follow these tips, especially when talking to someone with hearing loss, to improve communication:

- Reduce the room's noise and get the person's attention

- Ask if the person can hear you

- Speak slowly and clearly

- Do not shout

- Make sure hearing aid wearers are using them

- Consider using a portable hearing aid amplifier, especially if
you're in a medical setting where communication is very important

- If you're not understood, try to rephrase what you said with different words

- Take turns while speaking

- Do not talk while walking or looking away

- If obtainable, clear or transparent masks can help with lip reading and conveying emotions

Source: healthy hearing