During this pandemic, face masks have become the new normal. Whether it’s a quick trip to the grocery store or a routine doctor’s visit, face masks can negatively affect communication for people with hearing loss. This is due to lack of visual input as well as the mask’s effect higher pitch sounds, such as consonants which are responsible for speech clarity.
So as a hearing aid user, what can be done to help understand what a person wearing a face mask is saying? For starters, hearing aid manufacturers, such as Starkey and Signia, have specific settings that are designed to help overcome the effects of face masks. These settings can be accessed via smartphone app and are a great option to easily switch in and out of when you need it.
For users who have hearing aids from a different manufacturer, does not have a smart phone, or whose current hearing aids cannot connect to a smart phone, there is still a solution available. Here at Gardner Audiology, our Doctors of Audiology are experts at creating specific setting to help you understand better in our new normal. With a simple press of a button on your hearing aid, your hearing aids can go into your own mask setting.
For more information or to schedule an appointment call our office at (800) 277-1182 or email info@gardneraudiology.com
