As Covid-19 in all its various strains becomes part of everyday living and masks have become an essential item rather than a carnival accessory, spare a thought for those who need to lip-read.
Tracey Jones, hearing educator at Hearing Whanganui, says it is definitely an issue, but there is a way around it, if people are prepared to co-operate.
"If they really do rely on lip-reading, then they'll probably have to have a badge or something that says, 'I'm deaf ... I need to lip-read', and if they keep their mask on and the person doing the talking takes theirs off [while keeping a safe distance], then that's the only way we can get around it, I think, at the moment," she says.
"There have been lots of emails from other branches asking the same sort of thing.
"It is a concern for us."