Living with Hearing Loss – Amy's story

Our Keep It Clear campaign calls for better deaf awareness whilst face masks are being worn – and for more clear face masks to be available for use in healthcare and education. We love hearing from others who are campaigning on the same issue – together, we can make a real difference.

Here, we’d like to highlight Amy’s story. Amy, who is severely deaf, is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a deaf awareness platform. Last year she launched Clarity in Communication, a campaign to promote clear communication whilst face masks are being used. Since the launch of her campaign, she has already persuaded nearly 100 businesses in her local area to display her deaf awareness posters. Below, she talks us through the campaign and why it’s so important to her. 

Hello, my name is Amy and I have a severe hearing loss in both ears. I’ve had hearing loss since birth but wasn’t diagnosed until I was three years and nine months. My parents were involved with the National Deaf Children’s Society from the time I was diagnosed until I started school.

Fast forward to 2020 and I’m married with two children aged six and eight, they’re both hearing. When the pandemic first started back in March 2020 and the possibility of masks being used was first mentioned, I didn’t think for the world that they would become mandatory in so many places.

I coped quite well up until the school summer holidays. Then I was faced with the anxiety of having to negotiate masked conversations, with no access to lip reading. At this time I had no idea that exemption cards were available and I just bumbled along with the support of my children and husband. I’m so used to being on top form with my two kids (well as much as I can be) but not having lip-reading available to me just threw me into a different place of insecurity.

We went away for the summer to visit family in Jersey which was such a relief. Covid cases were low there and restrictions more relaxed. No masks were needed in any restaurants or shops – it was perfect! I managed to get all my children’s school clothes etc. during my time there. These simple tasks that I used to find enjoyable were filled with dread back home, so I really enjoyed being able to experience some ‘normality’ for a time. And my children enjoyed seeing their mother happy and her normal ‘on it’ self.

When we arrived home from Jersey and the children started back at school the ‘new normal’ began. In October my children’s headmaster wrote to parents asking them to wear masks when collecting their child.

I immediately fell into panic and anxiety because face masks would now affect me at the school gate. The little contact I got with my friends was now going to be taken away from me. I went online and discovered an article from RNID about the exemptions for lowering face masks, whilst social distancing is in place – I felt so relieved. At least this was something to turn to if I was ever stuck. I then also came across an actual exemption card which was downloadable from the gov.org website.

I wrote to my children’s school about this and ended up writing an article for the school newsletter. With that came the realisation that more deaf awareness was needed. I felt that no one knew about exemption cards ­– and no one had thought about how face masks were affecting those who are deaf or have a hearing loss.

And so, my campaign, Clarity in Communication, was born ­

I felt I needed to aim where deaf awareness was needed the most – and that’s with any face-to-face business. Ideally, I wanted to get all customer service establishments on board. I quickly realised that I could use some help with this! Together with a friend, I designed a poster and an information booklet for businesses.

I did a small launch in the surrounding areas of Watford, St Albans, Harpenden and Amersham and also in Wells in Somerset. The most successful town was St Albans and in December 2020, with the support of a group of friends, we persuaded 98 local businesses to display our deaf awareness poster.  

I also reached out to my hearing clinic, Aston Hearing, who have been amazingly supportive. And, we now have another partnership with Almond Hearing in Scotland.

Campaigning is time-consuming but it’s also rewarding. I would encourage anyone to speak up about what they are experiencing right now. People often don’t appreciate how challenging face masks can be for people who are deaf.

Are you interested in getting involved? You can find out more about the campaign on my website. I’d really appreciate your support with promoting it. If there are any businesses in your area that you think would like to participate, it would be great if you could ask them to display my poster.

If you’d like a poster, or more information about the campaign, please let me know and I will send you an information pack. Just get in touch with me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Photo credit: Kimberley Dawn Photography