Effects of face masks on acoustic analysis and speech perception: Implications for peri-pandemic protocols(33 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. J Acoust Soc Am. 2020;148(6):3562. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002873 https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002873...
) |
Australia, 2020 |
Cross-sectional study n=7 |
With intervention of mask use. |
Face masks alter the speech signal, but measures of vocal quality remain unchanged. |
IV |
Impact of face masks in public spaces during COVID-19 pandemic on daily life communication of cochlear implant users(2929 Homans NC, Vroegop JL. Impact of face masks in public spaces during covid-19 pandemic on daily life communication of cochlear implant users. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2021;6(3):531-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.578 https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.578...
) |
Netherlands, 2020 |
Prospective research study n=221 |
No intervention. |
Face mask use reduces Cochlear Implant (CI) users’ quality of life. |
IV |
Effect of Wearing a Face Mask on Vocal Self-Perception during a Pandemic(3030 Ribeiro VV, Dassie-Leite AP, Pereira EC, Santos ADN, Martins P, Irineu RA. Effect of wearing a face mask on vocal self-perception during a pandemic. J Voice. 2020:S0892-1997(20)30356-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.09.006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.09...
) |
Brazil, 2021 |
Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study n=468 |
No intervention. |
Face mask use increases the perception of symptoms and vocal discomfort, especially in individuals who used them for professional and essential activities. |
IV |
Effects of face masks on speech recognition in multi-talker babble noise(3131 Toscano JC, Toscano CM. Effects of face masks on speech recognition in multi-talker babble noise. PLoS One. 2021;16(2):e0246842. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246842 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.024...
) |
USA, 2021 |
Randomized clinical trials n= 200 |
With intervention of mask use. |
Different types of masks show similar accuracy at low background noise levels and more apparent at high noise levels. |
II |
Face mask type affects audiovisual speech intelligibility and subjective listening effort in young and older adults(3232 Brown VA, Van Engen KJ, Peelle JE. Face mask type affects audiovisual speech intelligibility and subjective listening effort in young and older adults. Cogn Res Princ Implic. 2021;6(1):49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-021-00314-0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-021-00314...
) |
USA, 2021 |
Non-randomized controlled trial n=180 |
With intervention of mask use and environmental noise addition. |
Older adults showed worse general intelligibility and classified speech as more difficult to process compared to young adults |
III |
Impact of Masks on Speech Recognition in Adult Patients with and without Hearing Loss(3333 Ritter E, Miller C, Morse J, Onuorah P, Zeaton A, Zanation A, et al. Impact of masks on speech recognition in adult patients with and without hearing loss. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2022;84(4):302-308. https://doi.org/10.1159/000518944 https://doi.org/10.1159/000518944...
) |
USA, 2021 |
Case-control n=45 |
No intervention. |
Dramatic decrease in word recognition scores when the provider utters words through an N95 mask and especially when the speaker is a woman. (p < 0.001; 95% CI:10-26%). |
IV |
Influence of surgical and N95 face masks on speech perception and listening effort in noise(3434 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. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253874 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.025...
) |
Germany, 2021 |
Prospective, observational study n=17 |
No intervention. |
Face masks reduce speech perception and increase listening effort in different noise signals. |
IV |
Powered air-purifying respirators used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly reduce speech perception(3535 Weiss R, Guchlerner L, Weissgerber T, Filmann N, Haake B, Zacharowski K. Powered air-purifying respirators used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly reduce speech perception. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2021;16(1):43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00334-y https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00334...
) |
Germany, 2021 |
Cross-sectional study n = 10 |
No intervention. |
The assessed powered air-purifying respirator system can be considered for high-risk procedures in SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in conjunction with a hearing protector. |
IV |
The cafeteria study: Effects of facial masks, hearing protection, and real-world noise on speech recognition(3636 Barrett ME, Gordon-Salant S, Brungart DS. The cafeteria study: effects of facial masks, hearing protection, and real-world noise on speech recognition. J Acoust Soc Am. 2021;150(6):4244. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0008898 https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0008898...
) |
USA, 2021 |
Cross-sectional study n=34 |
With intervention of mask use and environmental noise addition. |
Speech recognition in real-world listening environments can be hindered by PPE worn by speakers and listeners. |
IV |
The impact of face masks on the recall of spoken sentences(3737 Truong TL, Beck SD, Weber A. The impact of face masks on the recall of spoken sentences. J Acoust Soc Am. 2021;149(1):142. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002951 https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002951...
) |
Germany, 2021 |
Non-randomized controlled trial n=32 |
No intervention. |
Listeners remembered significantly fewer words when the phrases were spoken with a face mask. |
III |
Influence of Protective Face Coverings on the Speech Recognition of Cochlear Implant Patients(3838 Vos TG, Dillon MT, Buss E, Rooth MA, Bucker AL, Dillon S, Pearson A, Quinones K, Richter ME, Roth N, Young A, Dedmon MM. Influence of protective face coverings on the speech recognition of cochlear implant patients. Laryngoscope. 2021;131(6):E2038-E2043. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29447 https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29447...
) |
USA, 2021 |
Prospective cohort study n=23 |
No intervention. |
The type and combination of protective face coverings used have differential effects on the attenuation of speech information, influencing the speech recognition of patients with hearing loss. |
IV |
Communication with face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic for adults with hearing loss(3939 Poon BT, Jenstad LM. Communication with face masks during the covid-19 pandemic for adults with hearing loss. Cogn Res Princ Implic. 2022;7(1):24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00376-8 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00376...
) |
Canada, 2022 |
Cross-sectional study n=656 |
No intervention. |
Increased public awareness and use of a transparent mask were determined to be examples of practical supports for effective social interaction. |
IV |
How Face Masks Interfere With Speech Understanding of Normal-Hearing Individuals: Vision Makes the Difference(4040 Sönnichsen R, Llorach Tó G, Hochmuth S, Hohmann V, Radeloff A. How face masks interfere with speech understanding of normal-hearing individuals: vision makes the difference. Otol Neurotol. 2022;43(3):282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000003458 https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.000000000000...
) |
Germany, 2022 |
Prospective cohort study n=15 |
Different experimental conditions with and without simulated face masks using the audio-visual version of the female German matrix test. |
Face mask use by the speaker leads to a deterioration in speech understanding by the listener. |
IV |