COVID precautions are having an unintended effect on those with Hearing Impairment. Why? Because many such people rely on lip reading to understand the world, and the face masks that are now mandatory in many states make it impossible for them to read lips. Face masks can also obscure a speaker's affect, which people who use American Sign Language rely on to understand what is being said.

In response to this problem, advocates from the community are advising everyone to wear clear masks which would allow people with hearing impairment to stay safe while communicating effectively. Check out the video below, from ABC, to learn more.