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By Aaron Ibanez - Local Democracy Reporter

Day-to-day life for many Islanders with hearing loss has become especially challenging during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Social distancing, along with the increased use of face masks in public, is making communication ‘impossible’ according to the Manx Deaf Society.

 

Lucy Buxton, a support manager at the charity, says as many as 10,000 Islanders with some form of hearing loss, may have had their lives impacted by coronavirus restrictions.

 

As the Island adjusts to its ‘new normal’, some members of the public are opting to wear face coverings when in enclosed spaces.

 

‘Social distancing we can’t do anything about’ says Mrs Buxton, ‘but what we need people to understand is that the issue with masks is a huge one.’

 

‘Generally, they cover your nose and your mouth, so you are losing any expression and you’re losing the ability to see someone’s lips.

 

‘I really hope it doesn’t become compulsory because it would severly disadvantage our members and users.’

 

However, the society is looking to provide deaf-friendly face masks which come with a transparent ‘window’ to show the wearer’s mouth.

 

‘They’re not necessarily of the same standard of the PPE worn in the hospital, but for someone just going out and about, it would make a huge difference.’

 

The problem with the clear panel though, says Mrs Buxton, is that it may steam up.

 

Describing deafness as a ‘hidden disability’, she says learning to live with coronavirus measures is adding to an existing isolation felt by those in the hearing community.

 

As a result, there’s anxiety ‘around how we’re all going to cope’, with a lot of deaf individuals opting to ‘stay shut down’ and not go out, which she says comes with mental health implications.

 

The hearing community is making use of video calls and instant messaging to maintain contact though, according to Mrs Buxton.

 

‘If you’re a sign language user, you can’t pick up the phone. You can’t as easily send a text message because English isn’t your first language. You just want that face-to-face communication.

 

‘Our users who are more technologically savvy are still managing to keep their relationships going with Facetime and WhatsApp.

 

‘Some of our other members, who aren’t able to use the technology, are becoming quite isolated.’

 

The Manx Deaf Society contacted government to ask for transcripts of the daily media briefings.

 

It now provides a minister’s statements in writing, but not the follow-up question  and answer session with the press, which Mrs Buxton says is ‘a shame’.

 

According to the society, there are 15 registered users of British Sign Language living on the Island, and like England, the Isle of Man does not recognise BSL as an official language.

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