The effects of N95 mask and face shield on speech perception among healthcare workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic scenario

Bandaru, S V; Augustine, Ann Mary; Lepcha, Anjali; Sebastian, Swapna; Mahasampath, Gowri; Philip, Ajay; Mammen, Manju Deena

doi:10.1017/s0022215120002108

Cited by 78 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Reduction was larger, if an N95 mask was used. The observed effect is comparable to the reduction observed by Goldin et al 11 , Branda 12 and Bandaru et al 15 . While those studies used live, studies using audio only recordings made with medical masks did not show significant effects on speech intelligibility 6,16,17 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

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Influence of face surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise

Rahne

Fröhlich

Plontke

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Daily life conversation relies on speech perception in quiet and noise. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usage of face masks has become mandatory in many situations. Acoustic attenuation of sound pressure by the mask tissue reduces speech perception ability especially in noisy situations. Mask also impede the process of speech information from sight of the moving mouth (lip reading). In a prospective exploratory experimental study including 17 normal hearing participants, speech perception in noise and listening effort were measured with and without a surgical mask or an N95 mask between the speech signal and the listener. Additionally, the influence of the masks on the acoustic frequency spectrum was measured. Averaged over all noise signals, speech perception threshold in noise was significantly reduced by 1.6 dB (95% CI[1.0, 2.1]) by a surgical mask and by 2.7 dB (95% CI[2.2, 3.2]) using an N95 mask. The 50%-listening effort signal-to-noise ratio was not significantly increased by 0.58 dB (95% CI[0.4, 1.5]) by a surgical mask but significantly increased by 2.2 dB (95% CI[1.2, 3.1]) using an N95 mask. In acoustic measures the amplitudes were reduced by the mask tissue by up to 8 dB at frequencies above 1 kHz while no reduction was observed below 1 kHz. We conclude that face masks reduce speech perception and increase listening effort in different noise signals. Together with an additional interference by missing lip reading the compound effect of face masks would have a relevant impact on daily life communication already in normal hearing subjects.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Thus, the resulting signal would be similar to listeners having a slight high frequency hearing loss 14 . In a recent study on health workers the speech perception threshold was increased by 12.4 dB, if the speaker used an N95 mask and a face shield 15 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Influence of face surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise

Rahne

Fröhlich

Plontke

et al. 2021

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Two studies 10,11 investigated the effect of face masks on speech understanding in normal hearing people. Both found decreased speech perception scores in background noises when face masks were worn.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of face masks in public spaces during COVID‐19 pandemic on daily life communication of cochlear implant users

Homans

Vroegop

2021

Laryngoscope Investig Oto

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Objective/Hypothesis Investigate potential problems in the daily life communication of cochlear implant (CI) patients due to the widespread use of face masks in public places during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Study design Prospective survey study. Methods This study used an online questionnaire about the effects of face masks on daily life communication of adult CI users. The questionnaire consists of three parts: (a) A face mask questionnaire, (b) loneliness question (c) three subdomains of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire to assess quality of life. The questionnaires were send out on October 20, 2020. Four hundred and seven adult CI users were invited to participate in the study. The survey inclusion was closed on November 5, 2020. The study setting was the Rotterdam Cochlear Implant Center, Erasmus MC, a tertiary referral center in The Netherlands. The loneliness question and Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire were analyzed for possible differences between the current situation with masks and the situation before, when masks were not commonly used. Results Two hundred and twenty one adult CI users (54% female, mean age 62 years) participated in the study. The face mask questionnaire showed that face masks cause considerable problems in daily life communication of 80% of the participants. Also, CI users tend to feel more lonely and all used subdomains of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire worsened due to the use of face masks. Conclusion The widespread use of face masks greatly complicates the daily life communication of CI users and reduces quality of life. Level of Evidence 3.

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“…2 In a separate study in this month's issue, Bandaru et al assessed the effect of using an N95 mask and face shield on speech perception among healthcare workers with normal hearing. 3 A statistically significant increase in speech reception threshold (mean of 12.4 dB) and decrease in speech discrimination score (mean of 7 per cent) was found while using the PPE. In keeping with the findings of the previous study, the authors conclude that use of PPE significantly impairs speech perception; they recommend development of alternative communication strategies for effective communication.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

Coronavirus disease 2019: ethical implications, facial nerve palsies and the effects of personal protective equipment on speech perception among healthcare workers

Fishman¹,

Fisher²

2020

J. Laryngol. Otol.

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The effects of N95 mask and face shield on speech perception among healthcare workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic scenario

Cited by 78 publications

References 5 publications

Influence of face surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise

Influence of face surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise

Impact of face masks in public spaces during COVID‐19 pandemic on daily life communication of cochlear implant users

Coronavirus disease 2019: ethical implications, facial nerve palsies and the effects of personal protective equipment on speech perception among healthcare workers

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