Personal Protective Equipment Effects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 transmits through droplets; thus, oral, nasal, and conjunctival mucosas are related to contamination, and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is strongly suggested. Several communication problems between the patient and healthcare workers related to PPE use are reported. In this study, investigators aimed to investigate changes in the acoustic parameters of speech sounds when different PPE are used.

Detailed Description
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It was planned as a cross-sectional study enrolled 18 healthy male and female participants. After the informed consent, participants were asked to pronounce a [ɑː] vowel for at least 3 seconds for voice quality estimation. Afterward, all Turkish vowels were produced for a minimum of 200 ms. Finally, three Turkish fricative consonants ([f], [s], [ʃ]) were produced in consonant/vowel/consonant format and in different vowel contexts within a carrier sentence. Recordings were repeated for the following conditions: no PPE, surgical-mask, N99-mask, face shield, surgical-mask+faceshield, and N99+faceshield. All recordings were analyzed with proper statistical methods.

Official Title
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Effects of Personal Protective Equipment on Speech Acoustics

Conditions
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Speech Disorders, Voice Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: mask use


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: native Turkish speakers Exclusion Criteria: having an acute respiratory system infection history of any vocal fold surgery

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| no mask<br>no mask use | |
| surgical mask<br>surgical mask use | Device: mask use<br>* face mask use<br>|
| N99 mask<br>N99 mask use | Device: mask use<br>* face mask use<br>|
| face shield<br>face shield use | Device: mask use<br>* face mask use<br>|
| surgical mask+ faceshield<br>surgical mask+ faceshield use | Device: mask use<br>* face mask use<br>|
| N99 mask+ faceshield<br>N99 mask+ faceshield use | Device: mask use<br>* face mask use<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The change on voice acoustics due to different personal protective equipments use | speech material for six different conditions: no PPE,surgical mask,N99 mask,face shield,surgical mask+ face shield, N99+face shield were recorded with a microphone.Recordings were performed in a random order. Obtained speech records were segmented according to the speech material and saved. Each of the segmented files was analyzed using Praat software and related scripts. The voice quality parameters were estimated on sustained [ɑː] vowels via Praat software (Praat is an open source software which enables voice acoustics analysis). Mean values of the different formant frequencies and formant bandwidth frequency values at midpoints of the analyzed segments of the vowels were measured. Spectral moments of the consonants were measured. The formant and spectral moment were measured using Praat scripts. All outcome measurements are in Hertz (Hz), so all measurements are held in primary outcome 1 measure section. | 1 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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speech acoustics