Communication in Corona time

The last few weeks have turned the world upside down. We haven't gotten used to it yet, keeping our distance, working at home and all the other measures around the Corona virus, but we can't get around it anymore.

Especially for people with an auditory disability, some measures can limit their communication. Consider as a hearing impaired or deaf person, depending on lip-reading, only communicate with a distance of one and a half to 2 meters, let alone if mouth caps are used.

Austria has recently introduced the mouth cap obligation for public places. On the one hand, as the wife of someone who falls within the risk group, I applaud this measure. Anything that can help combat the virus is welcome.

On the other hand, I don't want to think about it, that Switzerland would also introduce this measure. I myself, and with me many others, depend on lip-reading for communication and the mouth caps would limit my communication enormously. For example, what about paying in a supermarket where the amount you have to pay is not shown at the counter ? But also communication with doctors, pharmacies and hospitals, as in case of an emergency, would become difficult. Of course this too can be solved with some creativity, but still.

Yet, it's not all doom and gloom. For example, I notice that I make more frequent use of Whatsapp, Facetime and Skype with video function. It's not ideal at all, but in combination with the use of Bluetooth, the sound comes directly into my hearing aids and functions just a little bit better than just calling. I recently spoke to a friend of mine in England via Whatsapp and we saw each other for the first time. Before that time, neither of us had thought of this and we only had chat contact.

Also I use Facetime more often for communication with my mother - I call her every day . She herself is not very handy in this, but a few times a week we see each other in Facetime when my brother is with her. At distance.

As far as keeping this distance is concerned: sometimes I really wonder whether people with good hearing and good sight have suddenly become hearing impaired, deaf or visually impaired ... Despite all the advice via TV, radio and all (social) media, there are still people who don't follow that advice, with which they mainly endanger others.

It's not easy for anyone to stay indoors as much as possible and especially for people with an auditory disability this can sometimes mean complete isolation, which also has a huge mental impact. And the longer these measures are needed, the more drastic the mental consequences.

That is why I would like to make my appeal to everyone with an auditory disability: keep social contacts and stay in (social) movement.

Always wanted to learn sign language? Now is your chance to do this online. And wouldn't you still like to follow that one (or more) course online? Do it! And if you can't pick up the phone, but can use video or chat? Do it! Do you work at home? Stay in touch with colleagues via video (calling), app/chat/mail. It pays to keep communicating, for yourself and for others.

I wish everyone a good health and strength in the time to come!