Editor,
Comments made in last week’s edition, suggesting that masking has little to no impact on one’s ability to hear, indicate that perhaps we need review what research has revealed about the issue.
The effectiveness of verbal communication is based largely on the vocabulary chosen by the speaker, the volume and clarity employed, and the ability of the listener to hear (auditory acuity), all of which is attenuated by ambient sounds and wind. Most people speak at about 42dB, although “loud talkers” might be as loud as 60dB. Standard disposable masks reduce the volume by 4-12dB while N95 masks reduce it further. Masks also reduce the clarity of speech. For people with good hearing health this is generally inconvenient, but for those with hearing impairment the impact can be significant. One recent study (Poon & Jenstad, 2022) reported that of those suffering from moderate and severe hearing loss, about 75% reported understanding speech to be either somewhat difficult (50%, 28%) or very difficult (27%, 68%) when the speaker wore a mask. “Impossible” was not a survey option.
People with hearing challenges often rely on facial expression and lip movement to aid in comprehension. Masks severely curtail these strategies, and while we cannot lean on these visual cues when listening to the radio, we can normally turn up the volume. Furthermore, radio personalities are hired based on the strength and clarity of their voice. I suspect that Municipal staff are not.
When I hear that Mayor Ross Kentner asked a staff member to remove their mask before addressing the group, if comfortable doing so, I do not see a possible power imbalance issue. I hear someone asking indirectly, on behalf of themselves or other members of Council who have hearing challenges, if the speaker would be kind enough to allow them to remain part of the group and to benefit from what is about to be said. It also reveals that, after almost two years of masks and mask mandates, the Municipality has yet to actualize its own inclusivity policy; if the presenting staff member cannot be heard by everyone in the room, perhaps it would be more respectful and effective to delegate the task to another, or employ another mitigating strategy.
Scott Gooch, Meaford
