4 ms·

(I wear hearing aids and always have; not correcting you; just typing/sharing y own observations to see if I learn anything) I do plenty of staring at mouths (

(I wear hearing aids and always have; not correcting you; just typing/sharing y own observations to see if I learn anything) I do plenty of staring at mouths (subconciously), and eye contact has always been a different thing than eyes-watching-lips, especially one-on-one. I'm not sure how it is for the normal-hearing, but prolonged eye contact has never been something I've done much of, my eyes usually regularly drop to the lips (or for those who I can hear really well, I won't be looking at their faces at all ;) ) When following in a group setting, I do watch eyes, but have that strong response of looking away if the speaker happens to make eye contact. And yeah, participating/interjecting in conversations is a weakness. The whole masking thing though... has been new and rough. If I have to converse 1-on-1 with the other wearing masks, there's no lips to watch, but the eyes are still there! I haven't dug into it too much (spooky? eyes are just distracting non-lipreading motions?), but my brain does massively better at figuring out what is said if I look to the side (typically at the floor/wall). Whether or not I have any autism spectrum traits or not, I'm sure a higher percent of people wonder about such now, than they did a few years ago. Masks + group of friends: I pretty much auto give up and idle on my phone; the culture of "don't question others about wearing masks" is too strong to feel socially comfortable with asking for masks to be removed. That's definitely excuse-making on my part, but my friends also are pretty good about removing masks when we're seated for dinner, etc. so I haven't been forced to ask for mask removal anyways...

jleyank 4y ago
I wear them also with severe loss. The eyes comment came from meetings before I got them. Many people “grow” into needing aids and go through a struggling period where many voices are just gone. Masks suck for deaf folks, but I can get a little from eye crinkles. And saying what a lot. And avoiding crowded, noisy restaurants as I’m screwed with or without aids.
- gertlex 4y ago
  There's another thread below that mentions a bunch of the same things you and I just did. Good knowledge and confirmation! And agreed, masks have shown (what has been said plenty in the past), there's still a ton of readable emotion just around the eyes. Distracting, though! Relating to the growing into needing/wearing them: I've worn mine since age 3 (and gone from analog to digital, with some tradeoffs of each), they're a constant, but I also have suspicions of my listening comprehension getting worse-over-time. But it could also just as well be increasing self-reflection/awareness + new experiences. (Just this month, mid 30s, first time visiting Germany, after 6ish years of German classes in middle/high school + college; confronted some real hearing limitations trying to listen to natives!)
tomxor 4y ago
What country is this? You just made me realise I haven't seen anyone wear a mask in person for ... months I think. I'm in the UK and covid has just become accepted as being here to stay. If anyone wears a mask here they are the odd one out, and I think people will assume they must be extremely vulnerable in some way since there is no societal or government pressure to do so, and catching it is kinda just a matter of time now.

jleyank 4y ago

I wear them also with severe loss. The eyes comment came from meetings before I got them. Many people “grow” into needing aids and go through a struggling period where many voices are just gone. Masks suck for deaf folks, but I can get a little from eye crinkles. And saying what a lot. And avoiding crowded, noisy restaurants as I’m screwed with or without aids.

gertlex 4y ago
There's another thread below that mentions a bunch of the same things you and I just did. Good knowledge and confirmation! And agreed, masks have shown (what has been said plenty in the past), there's still a ton of readable emotion just around the eyes. Distracting, though! Relating to the growing into needing/wearing them: I've worn mine since age 3 (and gone from analog to digital, with some tradeoffs of each), they're a constant, but I also have suspicions of my listening comprehension getting worse-over-time. But it could also just as well be increasing self-reflection/awareness + new experiences. (Just this month, mid 30s, first time visiting Germany, after 6ish years of German classes in middle/high school + college; confronted some real hearing limitations trying to listen to natives!)

tomxor 4y ago

What country is this? You just made me realise I haven't seen anyone wear a mask in person for ... months I think. I'm in the UK and covid has just become accepted as being here to stay. If anyone wears a mask here they are the odd one out, and I think people will assume they must be extremely vulnerable in some way since there is no societal or government pressure to do so, and catching it is kinda just a matter of time now.