Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects that the use of protective
face mask has over the voice and to search for associations between the self-reported
voice changes and the levels of discomfort experienced by the participants. Also,
to detect any change it the phonatory patterns while speaking with face mask.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional, observational study, conducted by distributing an online
questionnaire. From a total of 155 people who participated in the study, 143 of them
wore protective face mask during their working hours and qualified. Five groups of
questions were used to measure the Speech Difficulties, the Mask Related Behaviors
caused by the use of face mask, alterations in the Voice Perceptual Features, the
Vocal Tract Discomfort levels and the Greek version of the Voice Handicap Index. The
participants self-evaluated their voice and stated the frequency and severity of the
symptoms they experienced during the mask usage period.
Results
The results showed that the use of protective face mask increases the self-perception
of changes in the voice, especially in the voice-breathing coordination and has great
effect on the intelligibility and overall communication. The majority of people stated
that they have to speak louder and that they have noticed alterations in the perceptual
features of their voice, with hoarseness, and volume being the most frequently affected.
Almost every symptom on the Vocal Tract Discomfort Group was present with Dry, Lump
in Throat, Tight, and Short Breath being the most severe, and Dry and Short breath
being the most common among them. Physical, Functional, and Emotional affectations
were also observed through the Voice Handicap Index.
Conclusion
The use of protective face mask increases the vocal effort of the speaker, affects
the voice-breathing coordination, limits the overall communication, alters the perceptual
features of the voice, increases vocal track discomfort levels and results in psychosocial
and socioemotional difficulties. All these affectations may result to the establishment
of a voice disorder, especially in high-risk population.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 21, 2021
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Personal Address: Griva 34, 30132, Agrinio, Greece School of Advanced Education, Research and Accreditation, SAERA Department of Speech Language Therapy.
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© 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
