For the deaf and hearing impaired, COVID-19 proved uniquely challenging An Irving woman talks about the communication challenges and isolation that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. The City of Irving's water tower(Eline de Bruijn / Staff writer) Kathleen Purrington was born with a genetic condition that caused severe hearing impairment in both ears. From an early age, the Irving woman learned how to communicate by reading lips. At 17, she got her first pair of hearing aids, but her brain had never learned how to interpret sound. So although she can hear some sounds, she cannot understand what they are. When COVID-19 hit and people began wearing masks for safety and social distancing, Purrington, 63, suddenly lost her ability to communicate, attend classes at her local senior center and socialize with friends.