Post-pandemic research trick: Using transparent face masks for at-risk populations with hearing loss
User research with a transparent face mask
Last week I conducted in-person interviews with a high-risk participant pool. Normally I would have worn an N95 mask, but at least 1/3 of our participants also had moderate to severe hearing loss. So instead, I wore a transparent face mask to ensure we’d still be able to communicate.
It was very successful!
There are lots of transparent mask options, but I used the “Smile Protector” from STEK Care because it shipped fast, looked reasonably normal, and was well reviewed by translators, educators, and speech pathologists.
Here’s how it worked for me in a user research setting:
It made an enormous difference in my ability to communicate effectively with participants who had hearing loss. 🧏
Anti-fog was an important feature, but it didn’t prevent condensation. 😶🌫️
That all said, it still looks a little weird! 🧐
Several participants thanked me for wearing a transparent mask. I got very few requests to repeat myself during the study, and participants who rely on lipreading to communicate told me they were able to clearly see what I was saying. That was a huge win!
In terms of comfort, 15 minutes into my hour-long sessions, I could already feel condensation forming on the inside of the mask (probably unavoidable when you’re breathing directly onto plastic). The anti-fog coating did keep my mouth visible, but the mask became less comfortable to wear over time–rather like a T-shirt you’ve been sweating in. I took advantage of the break between participants to air it out and also had backups to swap out.
From a social perspective, while masking is becoming more accepted in the US (especially among at-risk populations), most people have never seen a transparent face mask. So it did draw some attention, with participants curious to learn more about it. It was easy to manage these types of questions during the intake portion of the study, and it did not appear to interfere with my ability to establish a good rapport (judging from participants’ demeanor and level of disclosure).
All in all, it was an effective solution to keep everybody safe without sacrificing the ability to communicate, and a valuable accessibility modification for user research.
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