Choosing An Appropriate Mask

“EVEN UPON REVIEW OF RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND ARTICLES, IT IS STILL CRUCIAL THAT WE REMAIN COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS; THEREFORE, EACH MASK DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS.”

Mask choice is just like an education plan - individualized. Of course, we need to make sure that we are utilizing masks that have been deemed safe to protect the person wearing it and those around them, but what else do we need to be mindful of for our students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)?

At first glance it may seem obvious to determine which mask appears to best suit the person in consideration. However, there are several studies and articles that focus on pros and cons of each mask option, each making a case for the best choice. The reality remains, everyone is different and will most likely respond differently based on their abilities and primary ways of accessing information and communication.

With no unanimous consensus on which type of mask is best for ALL DHH individuals, how can we best determine the most appropriate and effective option? Like with most data collection, best practice is to gather information from more than one source. You can approach this task by asking a series of questions, interviewing the student/parents/teachers, and testing out different masks.

Here are some examples of questions to consider:

• Does this individual primarily rely on manual communication (sign language), mouth cues/lip reading, auditory information (speech), or a combination of any of these?

  • This information can be found in a previous Functional Listening Evaluation or Assessment (FLE or FLA)

  • If this information does not currently exist, consult with a DHH professional to discuss how to ascertain this information.

• How will the communication preferences impact mask selection?

• Does the individual utilize a personal FM/DM (frequency modulation/digital modulation) system or a classroom amplification system?

  • How does that impact the auditory access?

• What distance(s) will the speaker be from the individual?

  • Does the distance with the mask impact the visual clarity and access to mouth cues/lip reading ability?

  • Does the distance with the mask impact the auditory access and intelligibility?

• Does this individual receive speech therapy services that may require visibility of his/her mouth or the therapist’s mouth?

• Does this individual have any other health or physical factors to consider?

• Who should wear the mask? Does the individual need others to see their mouth cues or do they need access to the mouth cues of the people they will communicate with?

Types of Masks

There are currently several options of masks to choose from: surgical masks, cloth masks, cloth masks with a clear panel, The ClearMask™, a shield, or a shield with an apron. After you have considered the information/questions above and have a clear understanding of the individual’s communication needs, you can narrow down your mask options. For example, for an individual that relies on visual cues (mouth or facial expressions) you would not consider a mask that covers the mouth and eliminates access to those features. Once you have determined the masks that are appropriate, the next steps include:

• test each mask by doing observations with each (in different conditions and environments)

• conducting trial sessions with each mask using prompts in various conditions (FLA)

• and data collection (contact KSD Outreach if guidance is needed).

The most important indicator of which mask is best suited and most successful for each individual will be revealed through data collection. Without collecting adequate data, you simply cannot assume or establish which mask will yield optimal access for each individual.

*Visit link below to see examples of different types of masks

Research & Information

Included below is a link to a list of resources related to masks and their effectiveness in communication. It is IMPERATIVE that when you read each resource you understand what exactly was being analyzed during each study. Some studies may only focus on the auditory clarity, some may only focus on the visual accessibility, and some may look at overall speech perception, which would consider all factors that impact access and intelligibility. Even upon review of research, studies, and articles, it is still crucial that we remain cognizant of the fact that we are dealing with individuals; therefore each mask decision should be made on an individualized basis.