44’s Gemma Houltby unmasks the challenges posed when communicating through face coverings is the only option available.
The Royal College of Nursing Institute (RCNI) recently wrote: “As practitioners, it is our responsibility to be more aware of how we come across when people cannot see our face, and we cannot see theirs, all emotion hidden behind masks.
“We need to be able to judge and react to our patients’ feelings and worries while managing continued social distancing and face covering. We will all have to learn to pay greater attention to our own and our patients’ non-verbal cues.”
I have scant understanding of the realities of working in a care-giving environment. However I do have some insight from a patient/family perspective. I know how much my loved ones have relied on the compassion and care given to them in their final days; how, when agitated, a smile and a pat on the hand would help to calm and reassure them.
Communication cues
As human beings, we constantly, unconsciously read and interpret the countless facial, bodily and non-verbal cues we send out to each other. This allows us to understand as much as possible about the situations we find ourselves in and can respond accordingly.
Hide or distort some of those communication cues and we can quickly experience emotional discomfort and uncertainty. Remote working has presented such a challenge, as face-to-face meetings were rapidly replaced by video and phone calls. Thankfully we’re a species that can adapt to cope with these situations, but nothing can really replace the physical presence of others.
Face coverings
In recent weeks, we’ve also seen the compulsory wearing of face coverings in many public places, work spaces, schools and organisations.
In my own experience, I much prefer visors as communicating through face coverings is much harder, because my hearing is poor. My deafness was diagnosed shortly after my 20th birthday and in the following years I’ve had to adapt and cope. I know that I communicate better when I can see people’s mouths as they talk – sign language isn’t a skill I’ve been able to pick up easily.
So face coverings, while all-important in preventing the spread of infection, are a fresh challenge to deal with. A masked mouth and muffled sound is the worst combination for me.
Tacking the challenges
Obviously, I’m just one of millions of people adjusting to communicating through face coverings. I return to the opening RCNI quote for a moment. Just think of the NHS staff who are tackling the challenges that face coverings present when working with colleagues, families and, in particular, patients with hearing problems, dementia, cognitive impairments or those who are recovering from strokes – conditions that mean they rely on as many communication cues as possible for comfort and support.
It’s a common misconception that deafness can be combatted by raising the volume. No. Volume for the sake of volume distorts sound and makes communication even more of a challenge. Speaking up is important but speaking clearly is vital. So too is making sure you tap into the non-verbal cues and body language you have at your disposal.
Among the practical advice the RCNI provides for communicating through face coverings is the need to be:
- Self-aware – calm and clear in our body language. Maintaining control over our movements so that we don’t pass on or create a sense of stress.
- Respectful – considerate in our gestures and using our whole face to express emotions. Smiles don’t need to be restricted to our mouths.
- Observant – just as we need to use the resources at our own disposal to convey messages, we should also take the time to really watch what others are communicating back to us with their own non-verbal cues.
Cultural norm
While communicating through face coverings is new for many of us, it’s the norm for many cultures and religions. In this fascinating BBC article, a number of women talk about how they communicate through face coverings such as niqabs. They all rely heavily on making the most of facial expressions, clear speech and tone of voice, eye contact and body language, and place a great deal of emphasis on being attentive to others’ cues.
Their words have given me reassurance that I can overcome the challenges that communicating through face coverings pose. Like them, I need to be more attentive to the person I’m communicating with, rather than placing my difficulties at the head of the interaction.
I also take heart in the fact that face coverings are adapting at incredible speed. We’re already seeing a rise in popularity and availability of transparent coverings to combat some of the issues I’ve mentioned. I’m sure it won’t be long before they too are a new, commonplace variant of our latest, must-have accessory.
How are you coping with the challenges of communicating through face coverings? Get in touch and let us know.
Leave A Comment