Teachers at the Royal Institute for the Deaf in Brussels wear partly transparent masks. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters)

The ubiquity of face coverings and the need for social distancing, among other public health measures intended to reduce the spread of Covid-19, are creating barriers to communication for many individuals who are Deaf or hard-or-hearing. Advocates warn that one-size-fits-all rules about masks and six-foot intervals between people exclude those with hearing loss from community engagement, which can cause anxiety and depression.