This Hamilton business sells clear face masks
- Michael Kras
- 15 Jan 2021
With the fact that masks conceal the bottom half of our faces causes myriad issues, a Hamilton small business has attempted to mitigate those issues with a line of face masks that feature a clear window to make the wearer’s mouth visible.
They’re called Clear Mask Shop, and they operate out of Open Door Hearing Co. on Locke Street; a hearing clinic that is seeing the communication issues caused by opaque cloth masks first-hand.
“As a hearing health care provider I often hear patients complain that traditional masks take away the visual cues in lip reading to help them hear better,” explains Leila Hess, B.H.Sc. of Open Door Hearing Co. and the Clear Mask Shop.
Indeed, for deaf and hard-of-hearing folks who may rely on lip reading for accessible communication, a normal mask has created a literally impenetrable barrier and created a whole new set of challenges for many in the Hamilton community.
The clear masks, which feature a double or triple layer border of cotton fabric that cover the nose and chin, also sport a rectangular window of clear hard plastic in the centre that allows users to showcase their mouth while still keeping it covered.
Clear Mask Shop also has different patterns and designs in their collection of masks, so the wearer can still choose a look they love.
The masks are already proving popular with locals, especially those in fields where the visibility of a speaker’s mouth is an important and often overlooked part of effective communication.
“We sold clear masks to audiologists, speech language pathologists, child care and senior care workers, and other customer service staff,” says Hess.
To learn more about Clear Mask Shop and check out their line, visit their website.
Lead image courtesy of @clearmaskshop.ca
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