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. 2021 Nov;24(6):e13117.
doi: 10.1111/desc.13117. Epub 2021 May 3.

Infants recognize words spoken through opaque masks but not through clear masks

Leher Singh  1 , Agnes Tan  1 , Paul C Quinn  2
Affiliations

Infants recognize words spoken through opaque masks but not through clear masks

Leher Singh et al. Dev Sci. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

COVID-19 has modified numerous aspects of children's social environments. Many children are now spoken to through a mask. There is little empirical evidence attesting to the effects of masked language input on language processing. In addition, not much is known about the effects of clear masks (i.e., transparent face shields) versus opaque masks on language comprehension in children. In the current study, 2-year-old infants were tested on their ability to recognize familiar spoken words in three conditions: words presented with no mask, words presented through a clear mask, and words presented through an opaque mask. Infants were able to recognize familiar words presented without a mask and when hearing words through opaque masks, but not when hearing words through clear masks. Findings suggest that the ability of infants to recover spoken language input through masks varies depending on the surface properties of the mask.

Keywords: auditory-visual perception; development; infant word recognition; language.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
a) An example of an opaque mask trial; b) An example of a clear mask trial; c) An example of a no mask trial
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Proportion of target fixation by phase and condition Note: Error bars indicate SEM
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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