COVID-19 and hearing difficulties

Trecca, Eleonora M C; Gelardi, Matteo; Cassano, Michele

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102496

Cited by 80 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…A potential solution to this face covering problem is the use of transparent face coverings (Atcherson et al 2017). Trecca, Gelardi, and Cassano (2020) reported that more patients with hearing loss attributed problems with surgical masks to the inability to lip read than to muffled speech. This indicates that increasing visibility of the face to allow for speechreading and People are trying harder to be nicerit's one of the only positives!…”

Section: Themesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus it is reasonable to expect that face coverings will impact those with hearing loss to a greater extent than those with normal hearing. Indeed patients with hearing loss seen in an Italian hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic reported significant communication difficulties, which were more often attributed to inability to lipread (56%) than to speech being muffled (44%) (Trecca, Gelardi, and Cassano 2020). Worries about face coverings were also reflected in a recent survey by Naylor, Burke, and Holman (2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19

Saunders

Jackson

Visram

2020

International Journal of Audiology

133

172

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Objective: To understand the impact of face coverings on hearing and communication. Design: An online survey consisting of closed-set and open-ended questions distributed within the UK to gain insights into experiences of interactions involving face coverings, and of the impact of face coverings on communication. Sample: Four hundred and sixty members of the general public were recruited via snowball sampling. People with hearing loss were intentionally oversampled to more thoroughly assess the effect of face coverings in this group. Results: With few exceptions, participants reported that face coverings negatively impacted hearing, understanding, engagement, and feelings of connection with the speaker. Impacts were greatest when communicating in medical situations. People with hearing loss were significantly more impacted than those without hearing loss. Face coverings impacted communication content, interpersonal connectedness, and willingness to engage in conversation; they increased anxiety and stress, and made communication fatiguing, frustrating and embarrassingboth as a speaker wearing a face covering, and when listening to someone else who is wearing one. Conclusions: Face coverings have far-reaching impacts on communication for everyone, but especially for people with hearing loss. These findings illustrate the need for communication-friendly face-coverings, and emphasise the need to be communication-aware when wearing a face covering.

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Section: Themesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19

Saunders

Jackson

Visram

2020

International Journal of Audiology

133

172

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The limited literature in this area has focused on face masks as a barrier to communication; early findings from an Italian hospital suggest that hearing-impaired patients had difficulty in understanding healthcare workers wearing face masks, due to muffled speech and impossibility of lipreading (Trecca et al 2020), while Chodosh et al (2020) provide an overview of the challenges people with hearing loss face from a clinical perspective as medical staff are required to wear face masks. To date at the time of writing, face masks have predominantly been worn by key workers such as medical professionals and shop assistants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19 Lockdown Affects Hearing Disability and Handicap in Diverse Ways: A Rapid Online Survey Study

2020

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The aim of this study was to explore the perceived effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) social distancing restrictions and safety measures on people with hearing loss. Design: Participants were 129 adults (48.1% female, mean age 64.4 years) with an audiometric hearing loss, living in Glasgow, Scotland. A rapidly deployed 24-item online questionnaire asked about the effects of certain aspects of lockdown, including face masks, social distancing, and video calling, on participants' behavior, emotions, hearing performance, practical issues, and tinnitus. Data were analyzed descriptively across the entire sample, and with Chi-squared tests for differences between subgroups self-reporting relatively good and relatively poor unaided hearing, respectively. Additional free-text responses provided further perspectives. Results: Behavior: Video calls are used more frequently than prelockdown. The better-hearing group use their hearing aids less. Emotions: There is increased anxiety (especially among the worse hearing group) concerning verbal communication situations and access to audiology services, and greater rumination about one's own hearing loss. Enjoyment of group video calls is mixed. The worse hearing group shows substantial relief at not being obliged to attend challenging social gatherings. Across both groups, a majority would like to see all key workers equipped with transparent face masks. Hearing performance: A large majority finds it hard to converse with people in face masks due to muffled sound and lack of speechreading cues, but conversing at a safe distance is not universally problematic. In the worse hearing group, performance in video calls is generally inferior to face-to-face, but similar to telephone calls. Those who use live subtitling in video calls appreciate their value. TV and radio updates about Covid-19 are easy to follow for most respondents. There is only weak evidence of face mask fixtures interfering with hearing aids on the ear, and of tinnitus having worsened during lockdown. Conclusions: With due regard for the limitations of this rapid study, we find that there are many negative-and a few positive-effects of Covid-19 restrictions and safety measures on people with hearing loss. From a societal perspective, the widespread adoption of clear face masks may alleviate some of the difficulties and anxieties this population experience. From an individual perspective, one may consider using live subtitles on video calls. Manufacturers of hearing devices should consider developing processing modes and accessories specifically designed for video calls. Finally, repair and maintenance services should be resumed as soon as it is safe to do so.

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“…Auch wird der HNO-Arzt mit der Durchführung von nasalen Abstrichtests konfrontiert [18]. In den letzten Wochen wurden Berichte veröffentlicht, wonach gehäuft sensorineurale Hörstörungen bei COVID-19-Patienten oder diffuser Schwindel auftreten können, wobei die Hörstörung persistieren kann [14,[19][20][21]. Dieses überrascht bei der nachgewiesenen Neurotropie des Virus nicht [16,17].…”

Section: Vorbemerkungenunclassified