Special Masks Help to Communicate with Patients During COVID

By Samuel (Sam) Johnson, B.A., AuD Extern

As Covid-19 has become a daily concern, masks have become an essential tool to limit transmission of the virus. Unfortunately, masks have an adverse effect on speech understanding especially for those with hearing loss. Not only do they reduce important pitches for understanding speech, they also obstruct a person’s ability to use visual cues to help understand what is being said.

Audiology Associates has utilized “communicator masks” which have a clear window to allow the listener access to the mouth and lips since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. These masks have allowed patients to communicate more efficiently and can still utilize facial expressions.  When a person has hearing loss, it is common for them to utilize more energy to carry on a conversation which can lead to fatigue, increased listening effort, frustration, and added stress on relationships.

These common emotional and physical effects of hearing loss are taken into consideration when helping patients manage their hearing challenges. Audiology Associates is an Ida Inspired Clinic and every provider is certified “inspired” in patient-centered care through the Ida Institute, a prestigious program created by leading experts from all over the world.

Our Inspired status shows our commitment to providing the best hearing care possible by making your individual preferences and needs the focus of the appointment, providing emotional support, and helping you manage hearing loss in daily life.  New systems allow providers to assess a patient’s listening effort to guide them to the best care plan.