HEALTHCARE
UNMASKING A PROBLEM Difficulty hearing people talk while wearing face masks has caused many to discover hearing impairments By ERIN THORBURN
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hroughout the pandemic, many of us have observed how face masks have impacted people’s ability to hear clearly. Think about how many times you’ve needed a mask-wearing restaurant server to repeat the special of the day. Or, maybe you’ve caught yourself staring blankly at your child, friend or coworker when asked a question you couldn’t quite decipher through an N-95 or cloth mask. KORY CASTRO For many, these “every once and a while” occurrences may be annoying or frustrating. For the 466 million deaf and hearing-impaired people in the U.S., face masks — while serving their safety functions — have led to lasting challenges. Communication barriers such as not
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AB | March - April 2022
