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Communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: the hearing-impaired perspective
Alexis Pinsonnault-Skvarenina1,2,3, Mathieu Hotton4,5, Andréanne Sharp4,6
1École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
COVID-19 protective measures like face masks significantly hindered communication for individuals with hearing loss. This led to increased communication breakdowns, activity limitations, and negative emotions, potentially causing social isolation and mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Communication Sciences
- Psychosocial Impact of Health Interventions
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated protective measures, such as face masks, impacting daily communication.
- Understanding the specific communicational and psychosocial effects of these measures is crucial, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Individuals with hearing loss often face pre-existing communication challenges that may be exacerbated by public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the communicational and psychosocial effects of COVID-19 protective measures in everyday communication settings.
- To describe communication difficulties experienced during the pandemic in both in-person and telecommunication contexts.
- To compare the impact of these measures on individuals with and without hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- An online survey with closed-ended and open-ended questions was administered.
- Participants included 172 individuals with hearing loss and 130 individuals with normal hearing.
- Recruitment utilized social media, audiology clinics, hospitals, and organizational newsletters.
Main Results:
- Face masks were identified as the most problematic protective measure by 75-90% of participants.
- Individuals with hearing loss reported significantly greater communication impact and activity limitations in all in-person settings compared to those with normal hearing.
- Participants with hearing loss also experienced more negative emotions related to communication difficulties.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate that individuals with hearing loss are more prone to communication breakdowns during pandemics.
- These communication challenges can lead to social isolation and negatively affect mental health.
- Implementing communication strategies to enhance speech understanding is recommended when interacting with individuals with hearing loss during public health crises.
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