COVID-19, masks and communication in the operating theatre: the importance of face value

Sharif, Shazia P.; Blagrove, Elisabeth

doi:10.1017/s0033291720003669

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Even a little signal level attenuation, as expected with the use of face masks, would affect hearing in a noisy situation with SNRs close to the individual SRT. In hearing-impaired listeners, speech perception in noise would be more affected by face mask-related declines in sound pressure levels because of the reduced amplification by the outer hair cells, resulting in a smaller dynamic range [6,8,19,20]. In hearing-impaired individuals, speech perception in noise also is reduced to an increased pure-tone threshold in quiet [21,22], mainly attributable to a reduced cochlear amplifier function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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Daily-life conversation relies on speech perception in quiet and noise. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have become mandatory in many situations. Acoustic attenuation of sound pressure by the mask tissue reduces speech perception ability, especially in noisy situations. Masks also can impede the process of speech comprehension by concealing the movements of the mouth, interfering with lip reading. In this prospective observational, cross-sectional study including 17 participants with normal hearing, we measured the influence of acoustic attenuation caused by medical face masks (mouth and nose protection) according to EN 14683 and of N95 masks according to EN 1149 (EN 14683) on the speech recognition threshold and listening effort in various types of background noise. Averaged over all noise signals, a surgical mask significantly reduced the speech perception threshold in noise was by 1.6 dB (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0, 2.1) and an N95 mask reduced it significantly by 2.7 dB (95% CI, 2.2, 3.2). Use of a surgical mask did not significantly increase the 50% listening effort signal-to-noise ratio (increase of 0.58 dB; 95% CI, 0.4, 1.5), but use of an N95 mask did so significantly, by 2.2 dB (95% CI, 1.2, 3.1). In acoustic measures, mask tissue reduced amplitudes by up to 8 dB at frequencies above 1 kHz, whereas 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 additional interference because of impeded lip reading, the compound effect of face masks could have a relevant impact on daily life communication even in those with normal hearing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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“…Varios sanitarios del Royal London Hospital (Reino Unido) declararon en su artículo de opinión que lo más utilizado para identificar la expresión facial de una persona es la región ocular. Sin embargo, el tapar la boca con la mascarilla influía de manera negativa en la comunicación no verbal (Sharif & Blagrove, 2020).…”

Section: El Papel De Las Mascarillas Como Barrera En La Comunicaciónunclassified

La comunicación entre la enfermera y el paciente durante la crisis sanitaria de la COVID-19

Arenas-García

Mirón-González

2022

Rev Esp Comun Salud

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Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró la enfermedad por COVID-19 como pandemia el 11 de marzo de 2020. Se trata de una enfermedad que se contagia mayoritariamente por vía respiratoria, por lo que el uso de la mascarilla fue obligatorio. La comunicación se vio afectada en el ámbito clínico. Objetivos: Describir la comunicación entre enfermera, paciente y familia durante la crisis sanitaria de la COVID-19 en el contexto sociosanitario a nivel internacional. Metodología: Revisión narrativa de publicaciones de 2020 y 2021. Las bases de datos consultadas han sido: Cuiden, PubMed, SciELO, Biblioteca Cochrane Plus, Scopus y Web of Science. También se ha consultado el buscador de Google Académico y las revistas Paraninfo Digital y Revista Española de Comunicación en Salud. Resultados: Se han analizado un total de 26 artículos. Conclusiones: La comunicación se ha visto afectada por la pandemia, especialmente la no verbal debido al uso de las mascarillas. Además, el poco tiempo del que disponía la enfermera para establecer una conversación con el paciente también ha influido de manera negativa. Ante ello, ha surgido la telemedicina como alternativa a la atención asistencial presencial.

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“…However, speech perception thresholds in noise were not yet performed in those conditions. In hearing impaired listeners, speech perception in noise would be more affected by reduced sound pressure levels caused by face masks 6,8,18,19 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) is an infectious disease that can occur because of infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The disease, which primarily affects the respiratory tract, was first described at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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COVID-19, masks and communication in the operating theatre: the importance of face value

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

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

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

La comunicación entre la enfermera y el paciente durante la crisis sanitaria de la COVID-19

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

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