![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/slp\/files\/2020\/09\/back-to-school-mask-clipart-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This will be a back to school year like no other! We will be smiling behind our masks and are excited to see everyone again.\u00a0 Wearing masks helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community but it can sometimes make communication more difficult, especially for people who have trouble speaking or hearing.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Masks make voices muffled and harder to hear.
\n\u2022 Masks cover facial expression and prevent speech reading. Without visual cues, people with hearing loss or communication difficulties may have even more trouble understanding what they are hearing.
\n\u2022 People with communication difficulties may not be able to make themselves understood through a mask.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Move to a quiet place, or reduce competing noises in the environment.
\n\u2022 For those who wear hearing aids, ensure they are working well.
\n\u2022 Face your communication partner and make sure nothing is blocking your view.
\n\u2022 Get the attention of your communication partner before you start talking.
\n\u2022 Ask what you can do to make communication easier for both of you.
\n\u2022 Speak a little more slowly and slightly louder than usual, but do not shout or exaggerate your speech.
\n\u2022 Use your eyes, hands and body movements to add more information to your speech.
\n\u2022 Use a voice amplifier.
\n\u2022 Ask if your communication partner understood you. If not, repeat, rephrase or write it down.
\n\u2022 Use speech-to-text apps to transcribe speech in real time.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/slp\/files\/2020\/09\/kids-playing-wearing-masks_52683-36791.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"