Communication barriers in people with hearing loss during COVID-19 pandemic
Communication barriers in people with hearing loss during COVID-19 pandemic

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: The widespread use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic has created communication challenges for many individuals, particularly for people with hearing loss, who are deaf or hard of hearing. Anyone with hearing impairment can have difficulties with communication due to facemask. Objective: The aim of our review article was to draw attention to communication barriers for people with hearing impairments, with special regard to the situation in the Slovak Republic Core of work: Various studies published in world available literature reported that face coverings negatively impacted hearing, understanding, engagement, and feelings of connection with the speaker. These difficulties were noticeable in patients with severe hearing loss. Developing communication support strategies for people with hearing loss is an urgent need while COVID-19 measures are in place. Conclusion: The vast majority of the hearing impaired in the population are hard of hearings or hearing impaired people who prefer communication in spoken language at various levels. The communication needs of hard of hearing who do not use sign language and rely on lipreading have been almost completely overlooked. The fact that they often have a problem understanding speech, it is not taken into account in the Slovak legislation concerning the hearing impaired

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