Answer two of the three questions based on the pdf? About 200 words per question

In 2020, people around the world began wearing face coverings in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While evidence shows that face coverings can reduce particle spread and limit virus transmission (Asadi et al. 2020), there is little research on how face coverings affect communication, especially for individuals with hearing loss. Saunders, Jackson and Visram (2021) assess the impact of face coverings on hearing and communication, which in turn can be used to improve the design of face coverings to make them more communication-friendly, and to educate the public on better communication tactics while wearing face coverings.

Study authors recruited 460 adults in the United Kingdom using snowball sampling, primarily through social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, or through emails. They targeted Facebook groups for hearing loss support in order to oversample adults with hearing loss. Each participant completed a survey about communicating with someone wearing a face covering, or communicating while the participant is wearing a face covering. Participants were asked about a variety of settings and their experiences – how connected they felt to the other person in the conversation, how well they can hear and understand the other person, and how engaged they felt.

The results of the study showed that 60 percent of participants who had worn a face covering when communicating said it caused them to “communicate differently” than if they were not wearing a covering. The study confirmed that face coverings have a bigger impact on communication amongst individuals with hearing loss than those without. Communication issues may cause individuals with hearing loss to experience a myriad of negative emotions, such as “anxiety, isolation, feeling stupid, and losing confidence (Saunders, Jackson and Visram, 2021). Saunders, Jackson and Visram call on “acousticians and industrial designers” to create improved face coverings, and healthcare providers and the general public to utilize important communication strategies when wearing a face covering.

Questions:

1. The study surveyed 460 members of the general public in the United Kingdom using snowball sampling. The researchers note that “people with hearing loss were intentionally oversampled.” Is including a larger proportion of individuals with hearing loss in this study beneficial to the accuracy of the results, or detrimental?
2. Of the 460 people surveyed, almost 80 percent were female and more than 93 percent were white. How do you think this affected the findings of the study? What are some other limitations you notice?
3. Authors of the study note that one of the most difficult settings for individuals with hearing loss to communicate through face coverings is a medical situation. How can medical professionals wearing face coverings use findings from the study to address communication gaps when working with people with hearing loss?

References:

1. Saunders, G. H., Jackson, I. R., & Visram, A. S. (2021). Impacts of face coverings on communication: an indirect impact of COVID-19. International Journal of Audiology, 60(7), 495–506.
2. Asadi, S., Cappa, C. D., Barreda, S., Wexler, A. S., Bouvier, N. M., & Ristenpart, W. D. (2020). Efficacy of masks and face coverings in controlling outward aerosol particle emission from expiratory activities. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 15665. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72798-7