Around the world, face masks are routinely recommended or required as one of the preventive measures to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The rapidly evolving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and emergence of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) have been unsettling, changing the daily lives of people around the globe. Recommended practical supports to facilitate communication and social interaction included more widespread use of clear face masks to aid lip-reading improved clarity in policy guidance on face masks and greater public awareness and understanding about ways to more clearly communicate with adults with hearing loss while wearing face masks. The proportion of those experiencing difficulty increased with increasing hearing loss severity. Over 80% of respondents reported difficulty with understanding others who wore face masks. We analyzed closed- and open-ended survey responses of 656 adults who self-identified as D/deaf or hard of hearing. An aim of our cross-sectional survey was to investigate the extent that face masks as a health and safety protective measure against SARS-CoV-2 have affected understanding speech in the day-to-day lives of adults with deafness or hearing loss, and identify possible strategies to improve communication accessibility. Face masks can make it difficult to hear and understand speech, particularly for people with hearing loss. Face masks have become common protective measures in community and workplace environments to help reduce the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
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