Effect of Face Mask on Speech Communication during COVID-19

Abstract

The virus's widespread transmission can be linked to particles in the air and droplets, making the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) crucial to preventing viral transmission.[1] Face masks are used to prevent pathogen transmission via droplets and/or aerosols.[2] As a result, N95 respirators and surgical facemasks are widely utilized in medical settings across the world.[3] Even traditional respiratory PPE, particularly full-face or partial-face masks, has been shown to diminish voice clarity and, as a result, communication efficiency.[4] Using a face mask reduces the distinctness of both messages: materials intended to reduce pathogen and other airborne particle transmission influence mouth mobility and sound delivery, and face masks often occlude the talker's mouth, obscuring key visual speech cues.[5] Both noise and the mask's limited vision would be labeled as communication barriers.[6]