Investigating the Effects of Face Mask on Word Recognition Score Test During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Considerations and Limitations
Abstract
Introduction: Using personal protective equipment, especially face masks, in the COVID-19 pandemic era may make verbal communication difficult. Furthermore, acoustic changes in mask-wearing conditions may affect speech audiometry results. This study investigates the effect of wearing a face mask on the word recognition score and the role of speech frequency content in this effect.
Materials and Methods: This study was planned and conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the validity and reliability of two speech material lists, high-pitch and low-pitch, were determined. In the second phase, the word recognition score was measured for “mask-wearing” and “covering mouth without a mask.”
Results: The statistical analysis showed that the content validity ratio was 0.92, and the content validity index was 0.8. Therefore, both speech lists were valid. For these lists, the mixed analysis of variance analysis showed that the scores for “mask-wearing” were significantly lower than “covering mouth without a mask,” and there was more reduction in scores for the high-pitched list (F=8.7, df=1, P<0.005).
Conclusion: In terms of the impact of a face mask on speech, explaining how speech audiometry is performed, especially in monitoring treatments, may help limit the probability of misinterpretation of speech test findings. Furthermore, understanding the impact of face masks on word recognition scores in adopting sufficient auditory rehabilitation procedures is necessary.
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2. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, Solo K, Yaacoub S, Schünemann HJ; COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) study authors. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. 2020; 395(10242):1973-87. [DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9] [PMID]
3. Hampton T, Crunkhorn R, Lowe N, Bhat J, Hogg E, Afifi W, et al. Speech discrimination challenges of healthcare professionals whilst wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Authorea. 2020. [DOI:10.22541/au.159050338.83886289]
4. Magee M, Lewis C, Noffs G, Reece H, Chan JCS, Zaga CJ, et al. Effects of face masks on acoustic analysis and speech perception: Implications for peri-pandemic protocols. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 2020; 148(6):3562. [DOI:10.1121/10.0002873] [PMID]
5. Mheidly N, Fares MY, Zalzale H, Fares J. Effect of face masks on interpersonal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020; 8:582191. [DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191] [PMID]
6. Bandaru SV, Augustine AM, Lepcha A, Sebastian S, Gowri M, Philip A, et al. The effects of N95 mask and face shield on speech perception among healthcare workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic scenario. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2020; 134(10):895-8. [DOI:10.1017/S0022215120002108] [PMID]
7. Homans NC, Vroegop JL. The impact of face masks on the communication of adults with hearing loss during COVID-19 in a clinical setting. International Journal of Audiology. 2022; 61(5):365-70. [DOI:10.1080/14992027.2021.1952490] [PMID]
8. Toscano JC, Toscano CM. Effects of face masks on speech recognition in multi-talker babble noise. PloS One. 2021; 16(2):e0246842. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0246842] [PMID]
9. Esmaeilzadeh P. Public concerns and burdens associated with face mask-wearing: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress in Disaster Science. 2022; 13:100215.[DOI:10.1016/j.pdisas.2022.100215] [PMID]
10. Gama R, Castro ME, van Lith-Bijl JT, Desuter G. Does the wearing of masks change voice and speech parameters? European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2022; 279(4):1701-8. [DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07086-9] [PMID]
11. Thibodeau LM, Thibodeau-Nielsen RB, Tran CMQ, Jacob RTS. Communicating during COVID-19: The effect of transparent masks for speech recognition in noise. Ear and Hearing. 2021; 42(4):772-81. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000001065] [PMID]
12. Mendel LL, Gardino JA, Atcherson SR. Speech understanding using surgical masks: A problem in health care? Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2008; 19(9):686-95. [DOI:10.3766/jaaa.19.9.4] [PMID]
13. Corey RM, Jones U, Singer AC. Acoustic effects of medical, cloth, and transparent face masks on speech signals. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 2020; 148(4):2371. [DOI:10.1121/10.0002279] [PMID]
14. Rahne T, Fröhlich L, Plontke S, Wagner L. Influence of surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise. Plos One. 2021; 16(7):e0253874. [PMID]
15. Atcherson SR, Mendel LL, Baltimore WJ, Patro C, Lee S, Pousson M, et al. The effect of conventional and transparent surgical masks on speech understanding in individuals with and without hearing loss. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2017; 28(01):58-67. [DOI:10.3766/jaaa.15151] [PMID]
16. Goldin A, Weinstein B, Shiman N. Speech blocked by surgical masks becomes a more important issue in the era of COVID-19. Hearing Review. 2020; 27(5):8-9.
17. Gelfand SA. Essentials of audiology.New York: Thieme; 2016.[DOI:10.1055/b-006-161125]
18. Iva P, Fielding J, Clough M, White O, Noffs G, Godic B, et al. Speech discrimination impairments as a marker of disease severity in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 2021; 47:102608. [DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2020.102608] [PMID]
19. Kurioka T, Sano H, Furuki S, Yamashita T. Speech discrimination impairment of the worse-hearing ear in asymmetric hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology. 2021; 60(1):54-9. [DOI:10.1080/14992027.2020.1795282] [PMID]
20. DeBow A, Green WB. A survey of Canadian audiological practices: Pure tone and speech audiometry. CanadaianJournal of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. 2000; 24(4):153-61. [Link]
21. Halpin C, Rauch SD. Improvement in word recognition score with level is associated with hearing aid ownership among patients with hearing loss. Audiology and Neurotology. 2012; 17(3):139-47. [DOI:10.1159/000333777] [PMID]
22. Lawshe CH. A quantitative approach to content validity. Personnel Psychology. 1975; 28(4):563-75. [DOI:10.1111/j.1744-6570.1975.tb01393.x]
23. Saeidi R, Huhtakallio I, Alku P. Analysis of face mask effect on speaker recognition. Interspeech. 2016; 1800-4. [Link]
24. Fecher N. [Effects of forensically-relevant facial concealment on acoustic and perceptual properties of consonants [PhD dissertation]. York: University of York; 2014. [Link]
25. Llamas C, Harrison P, Donnelly D, Watt D. Effects of different types of face coverings on speech acoustics and intelligibility. York Papers in Linguistics Series. 2009; 9:80-104. [Link]
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 18 No 1 (2024) | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v18i1.14729 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Speech recognition Word recognition score Personal protective equipment Face mask COVID-19 | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Zohre Mousavi S, Maleki M, Maarefvand M, Borna A. Investigating the Effects of Face Mask on Word Recognition Score Test During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Considerations and Limitations. jmr. 2024;18(1):55-61.
