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See the person, not the mask: ClearMask aids in communication with deaf community

Transparent masks also welcomed by children and seniors who feel a need to connect with their caregivers
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ClearMask is a new transparent surgical mask. (Supplied)

Many Canadians are choosing to wear a face mask as a common sense precaution against spreading the coronavirus as well as a courtesy toward other people they might come in contact with. 

Recent experience has shown that conventional face masks might make it hard for people to hear you speaking as well as making it difficult to hear what others are saying. 

Face masks make life especially difficult for anyone that is deaf or hard of hearing. 

Things are changing.

Don't be surprised if you start seeing people wearing the ClearMask, a new transparent surgical mask co-created by Allysa Dittmar, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a deaf woman who was working a few years ago in a public service role for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Maryland Governor's office.

The original idea to create the ClearMask is based on personal experience. Dittmar was in hospital for a medical procedure a few years back. She recalled being confronted by doctors and nurses all wearing traditional face masks and she had no idea what was being said. She could not read their lips or their facial expressions or any other visual cues.  

Dittmar said the experience prompted a group of Johns Hopkins post graduate students and alumni, including herself, to develop the transparent mask in 2017. She added that as the mask was being marketed, its value was recognized on many levels.

"Transparent masks were thought of by deaf people, not hearing people, long before this pandemic occurred. Because the mask was designed from a deaf lens, many have recognized the ClearMask to be very user-friendly and effective for communication because the design has open sides and the largest transparent, anti-fogging panel on the market. Other transparent masks, especially handmade ones, still block some of the face, most notably from the sides, and shift up and down while the user is speaking," she said. 

Dittmar also emphasized that transparent masks are not a one-size-fits all, and other accommodations may be needed, such as sign language interpreters or captioning, to ensure full and inclusive access. 

Fast forward to 2020 with the coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly being in the face mask business was being in the right place at the right time.

"Ever since the pandemic started, demand for the ClearMask has skyrocketed," said Dittmar.  

"The company is currently providing masks in bulk volumes, typically in quantities of ten thousand masks to hundreds of thousands. To date, ClearMask has worked with state emergency management agencies, hospitals, essential workers, and different communities in need. Due to the high demand, ClearMask has been fulfilling bulk orders and plans to roll out the ability to fulfill smaller, individual orders soon," she added.

In clinical settings, Dittmar said the transparent mask is welcomed by children who might feel the need more than most to connect with their caregivers. The same holds true for senior citizens, people with dementia or anyone experiencing confusion, stress or anxiety. 

"We have witnessed the widespread and innate need to see each others’ faces, not only among deaf and hard of hearing people, but everyone. We are proud that the ClearMask reflects universal design and benefits so many people," said Dittmar. 

The ClearMask company is based in Baltimore, but Dittmar said orders are being shipped to Canada. 

"The mask is available for use in Canada under the COVID-19 Interim Order Authorization. Canadian hospitals have already ordered from us, as well as health authorities of several provinces. We are working with Cardinal Health Canada to distribute the ClearMask to our Canadian customers," said Dittmar.

Individual pre-orders can be made on the company website, but a notice at the top of the page advises that priority is being given to hospitals, health care providers and essential workers and only bulk orders are being filled at this time.


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Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

About the Author: Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com covering health care in northeastern Ontario and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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