Talking tips to combat ‘mask misunderstandings’

WEARING a mandatory masks in public presents communication challenges for speakers and listeners.

Heidi Allan, an uMhlanga-based audiologist and speech-language therapist who has been practicing for more than 30 years, said cloth masks distort the quality of speech, making it very difficult for the listener to decode sounds.

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“This significantly changes the meaning of communication and the way in which we would respond and act. Secondly, the volume of speech is affected with wearing a cloth mask, making it difficult for those with even minimal changes in hearing to effectively understand what is being said and often requiring the speaker to increase the volume of their voice, putting a strain on their vocal chords,” she said.

In addition to this, Allan said we all rely on lip-reading to an extent even with normal hearing.

“We ‘fill in the gaps’ by watching the speaker’s face for visual cues that help us not only understand the sounds of words being used, but also the intent behind the communication which is transmitted by facial expressions,” said Allan.

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Masks also disturb non-verbal communication which plays a vital role in understanding tone and meaning.

“Sarcasm and humour are transmitted by our tone and in what we do with our faces, and not being able to clearly see a speakers face, makes it very hard to interpret what a person means or how they feel when they are speaking. This often leads to a breakdown in communication as we misunderstand or misinterpret what the speaker means,” said Allan.

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