Yanky Sports Introduces New Face Masks For Those Hard of Hearing
FREDERICTON – With masks now mandatory in New Brunswick, a local designer has teamed up with a Fredericton business to create one for those hard of hearing.
When the Covid-19 pandemic started, Yanky Sports founder Ryan Jacobson saw an opportunity to supply Maritimers with reusable masks. The company teamed up with local businesses to offer Maritime-made masks to the community, which launched back in May.
RELATED: Yanky Sports Teams With Other Local Businesses To Make Masks For International Market
But while working with design company Creative Juices on the masks, designer Ben Duncan pitched one designed for those hard of hearing. He was inspired by his sister, Sarah Duncan, who is hard of hearing.
“If I didn’t figure it out, and I’m the guy making these masks, how many others are not realizing that communication is being hindered by the masks?”
The masks are intended to aid those hard of hearing by informing others of their disability. Ben achieved this by printing the international symbol for deafness on one side of the mask, and “I read lips” on the other.
“People need to be a little more aware that there are people out there that struggle with hearing people, even without a mask,” said Ben. “We are hoping this mask will help people be more aware.”
The mask was originally intended for Sarah as she found it difficult to communicate with retail workers. Sarah said she only left her house for essentials because of the strain masks created.
“I’m hard of hearing and I read lips, but everybody is different. I know a lot of deaf people sign, I know some people rely on facial expressions,” said Sarah. “I find it very stressful, so I don’t know how people who are completely deaf are handling this.”
The Yanky Sports masks differ from most, where the elastics fit around the head rather than over the ear. Jacobson said the prototypes showed a better seal and didn’t pull on the ear. This design also benefits anyone who may wear hearing aids.
“I did hear from a person who said she wears hearing aids. She said, ‘I really like your mask because people with hearing aids or hearing devices can’t wear that style [over the ear] because the elastic can impede, impact, or even pull out the hearing device,’” said Jacobson.
The masks are available on the Yanky Sports website and are marginally more expensive at $22.99 compared to $19.99 for other the Yanky masks. Jacobson attributes the price discrepancy to the cost of printing a design on both sides.
So far, Jacobson has received orders from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Though sales for the masks have not soared, he says they weren’t created to turn a profit.
“Honestly, it hasn’t been tremendous in terms of actual sales, but I’m not overly concerned. It was originally meant to be a one-off for Sarah, and we’ve accomplished that,” said Jacobson. “The rest for me is about building awareness around being inclusive with how we communicate.”