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. 2020 Sep 28:1-4.
doi: 10.1017/S0022215120002108. Online ahead of print.

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

S V Bandaru  1 , A M Augustine  1 , A Lepcha  1 , S Sebastian  2 , M Gowri  3 , A Philip  1 , M D Mammen  1
Affiliations

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

S V Bandaru et al. J Laryngol Otol. .

Abstract

Objective: The current circumstances of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic necessitate the use of personal protective equipment in hospitals. N95 masks and face shields are being used as personal protective equipment to protect from aerosol-related spread of infection. Personal protective equipment, however, hampers communication. This study aimed to assess the effect of using an N95 mask and face shield on speech perception among healthcare workers with normal hearing.

Methods: Twenty healthcare workers were recruited for the study. Pure tone audiometry was conducted to ensure normal hearing. Speech reception threshold and speech discrimination score were obtained, first without using personal protective equipment and then repeated with the audiologist wearing an N95 mask and face shield.

Results: 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 personal protective equipment.

Conclusion: Use of personal protective equipment significantly impairs speech perception. Alternate communication strategies should be developed for effective communication.

Keywords: Audiometry; Masks; Personal Protective Equipment; Speech.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The N95 mask and face shield used by the audiologist during speech audiometry testing with personal protective equipment.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Box plot indicating the distribution of speech reception threshold intensity. SRT a = speech reception threshold without using personal protective equipment; SRT b = speech reception threshold while using personal protective equipment
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Box plot indicating the distribution of speech discrimination scores. SDS a = speech discrimination score without using personal protective equipment; SDS b = speech discrimination score while using personal protective equipment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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