Mask your word, mask my world: mask wearing behavior in Chinese deaf people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Community mask wearing can effectively reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it may also hinder face-to-face interpersonal communication, particularly for deaf individuals who depend on non-manual articulations to convey and comprehend various types of meanings. The current research, for the first time in the literature, quantitatively assessed the hypothesis that deaf individuals are less likely to comply with mask policies during the pandemic than their hearing counterparts because face coverings negatively impact their everyday communication. Across two studies, Chinese people exhibited lower adherence to mask wearing in their self-report and actual behavior than typical-hearing individuals. It may be that taking off face masks can facilitate communication among people with hearing loss. These findings have important implications for both everyday communication and public health preventive measures for hearing-impaired populations.