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Fajardo I, Gómez-Merino N, Ferrer A, Rodríguez-Ortiz IR. Hearing What You Can't See: Influence of Face Masks on Speech Perception and Eye Movement by Adults With Hearing Loss. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024; 67:3841-3861. [PMID: 39302873 DOI: 10.1044/2024_jslhr-22-00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the study was to analyze how face masks influence speech perception and time spent looking at the speaker's mouth and eyes by adults with and without hearing loss. METHOD Twenty participants with hearing loss and 20 without were asked to repeat Spanish words presented in various conditions, including different types of face masks (no mask, transparent window mask, and opaque mask FFP2) and presentation modes (audiovisual, video only, and audio only). Recognition accuracy and the percentage of time looking at the speaker's eyes and mouth (dwell time) were measured. RESULTS In the audiovisual condition, participants with hearing loss had significantly better word recognition scores when the speaker wore no mask compared to when they wore an opaque face mask. However, there were no differences between the transparent mask and no mask conditions. For those with typical hearing, the type of face mask did not affect speech recognition. Audiovisual presentation consistently improved speech recognition for participants with hearing loss across all face mask conditions, but for those with typical hearing, it only improved compared to video-only mode. These participants demonstrated a ceiling effect in audiovisual and audio-only modes. Regarding eye movement patterns, participants spent less time looking at the speaker's mouth and more time at the eyes when the speaker wore an opaque mask compared to no mask or a transparent mask. CONCLUSION The use of transparent face masks (ClearMask-type model) is recommended in contexts where face masks are still used (hospitals) to prevent the hindering effect of opaque masks (FFP2-type model) in speech perception among people with hearing loss, provided that any fogging of the window of the transparent mask is controlled by wiping it off as needed and the light is in front of the speaker to minimize shadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Fajardo
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación and ERI-Lectura-Atypical Research Group, Universitat de València, Spain
- Red Lectin (Inclusive Reading Network: Network for Research and Innovation in Atypical Reading)
| | - Nadina Gómez-Merino
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación and ERI-Lectura-Atypical Research Group, Universitat de València, Spain
- Red Lectin (Inclusive Reading Network: Network for Research and Innovation in Atypical Reading)
| | - Antonio Ferrer
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación and ERI-Lectura-Atypical Research Group, Universitat de València, Spain
- Red Lectin (Inclusive Reading Network: Network for Research and Innovation in Atypical Reading)
| | - Isabel R Rodríguez-Ortiz
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación and Laboratorio de Diversidad, Cognición y Lenguaje, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
- Red Lectin (Inclusive Reading Network: Network for Research and Innovation in Atypical Reading)
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Rahimi V, Tavanai E, Taghavi SMR, Khalili ME. Uncovering the effects of pandemic conditions on hearing aid experiences: a dual perspective from audiologists and hearing aid users. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39374325 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2405557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024]
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the effects of the pandemic on hearing aid experiences from the perspectives of audiologists and patients, as well as communication challenges faced by both users and non-users of hearing aids. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of two phases: a longitudinal study examining the services provided by audiologists during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and after the first vaccination dose. The second phase involved a survey of 120 elderly individuals with hearing loss, divided into hearing aid users and non-users for assessing communication challenges. Data was collected from comprehensive audiology clinics using a series of checklists. Results: Analysis of the frequency of services related to hearing aids revealed that during the peak period, the majority of visits were for acquiring batteries and hearing aids, while fewer visits were for fitting and fine-tuning the devices. After vaccination the pattern was changed. In the second phase, significant differences were observed between the hearing aid users and non-users with regards to their ability to comprehend speech while wearing mask, communicating at a safe distance, and following TV news. Conclusions: The distribution of requested services differed during the peak period and the post-vaccination period. There was a noticeable increase in the purchase and fitting of hearing aids after vaccination. However, patients encountered difficulties due to the limited availability of tele-audiology services and delayed services from hearing aid companies. The benefits of hearing aids were impacted by the pandemic as many people did not seek adjustments for their devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Rahimi
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Tavanai
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Fantoni M, Federici A, Camponogara I, Handjaras G, Martinelli A, Bednaya E, Ricciardi E, Pavani F, Bottari D. The impact of face masks on face-to-face neural tracking of speech: Auditory and visual obstacles. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34860. [PMID: 39157360 PMCID: PMC11328033 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Face masks provide fundamental protection against the transmission of respiratory viruses but hamper communication. We estimated auditory and visual obstacles generated by face masks on communication by measuring the neural tracking of speech. To this end, we recorded the EEG while participants were exposed to naturalistic audio-visual speech, embedded in 5-talker noise, in three contexts: (i) no-mask (audio-visual information was fully available), (ii) virtual mask (occluded lips, but intact audio), and (iii) real mask (occluded lips and degraded audio). Neural tracking of lip movements and of the sound envelope of speech was measured through backward modeling, that is, by reconstructing stimulus properties from neural activity. Behaviorally, face masks increased perceived listening difficulty and phonological errors in speech content retrieval. At the neural level, we observed that the occlusion of the mouth abolished lip tracking and dampened neural tracking of the speech envelope at the earliest processing stages. By contrast, degraded acoustic information related to face mask filtering altered neural tracking of speech envelope at later processing stages. Finally, a consistent link emerged between the increment of perceived listening difficulty and the drop in reconstruction performance of speech envelope when attending to a speaker wearing a face mask. Results clearly dissociated the visual and auditory impact of face masks on the neural tracking of speech. While the visual obstacle related to face masks hampered the ability to predict and integrate audio-visual speech, the auditory filter generated by face masks impacted neural processing stages typically associated with auditory selective attention. The link between perceived difficulty and neural tracking drop also provides evidence of the impact of face masks on the metacognitive levels subtending face-to-face communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Fantoni
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | - A. Federici
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | | | - G. Handjaras
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | | | - E. Bednaya
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | - E. Ricciardi
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | - F. Pavani
- Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello–CIMEC, University of Trento, Italy
- Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca “Cognizione Linguaggio e Sordità”–CIRCLeS, University of Trento, Italy
| | - D. Bottari
- MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
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Perkins L, Munter S, Adams L, Black K, Guajardo I, Costantini T, Doucet J, Santorelli J. Unmasking the Impact: Exploring the Role of Masks in Trauma-Informed Care Communication. J Surg Res 2024; 300:87-92. [PMID: 38796905 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID pandemic has necessitated mask-wearing by inpatient providers; however, the impact of masks on the acute care surgeon-patient relationship is unknown. We hypothesized that mask-wearing, while necessary, has a negative impact by acting as a barrier to communication, empathy, and trust between patients and surgeons. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed by administering a written survey in English or Spanish to trauma, emergency general surgery, burn, and surgical critical care inpatients aged ≥18 y at a University Level 1 Trauma Center between January 2023 and June 2023. Patients were asked seven questions about their perception of mask effect on interactions with their surgery providers. Responses were scored on a five-point Likert scale and binarized for multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS There were 188 patients who completed the survey. The patients were 68% male, 44% Hispanic, and 17% Spanish speaking, with a median age of 45-54 y. A third of patients agreed that surgeon mask-wearing made it harder to understand the details of their surgical procedure and made them less comfortable in giving consent. Twenty three percent agreed that it was harder to trust their provider; increasing age was associated with lower levels of trust, odds ratio 1.36 (confidence interval 1.10-1.71, P = 0.006). Findings were consistent among patients of different sex, race/ethnicity, language, and pre-COVID hospital experience. CONCLUSIONS Mask-wearing, while important, has a negative impact on the patient-surgeon relationship in trauma and acute care surgery. Providers must be conscious of this effect while wearing masks and strive to optimize communication with patients to ensure high-quality trauma-informed care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Perkins
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California.
| | - Sadie Munter
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Laura Adams
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Kendra Black
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Isabella Guajardo
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Todd Costantini
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Jay Doucet
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Jarrett Santorelli
- Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California
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Karimi H, Rasoli Jokar AH, Salehi S, Aghadoost S. Behind the mask: Stuttering, anxiety, and communication dynamics in the era of COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2024. [PMID: 39078384 DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.13096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While wearing masks during the pandemic poses communication and social challenges for people in everyday life, those with social anxiety might find them plausible, aligning with contemporary cognitive theories. Social anxiety involves fearing negative assessments and holding a negative self-image. Concealing anxiety symptoms during mask use may contribute to a more positive self-perception. AIMS Given that up to 60% of adults seeking stuttering treatment also meet criteria for social anxiety disorder, this study aims to investigate the complex relationship between communication freedom, self-perceived stuttering and anxiety in adults who stutter (AWS). The unique context of mandatory mask-wearing during the pandemic provides an opportunity to explore these dynamics and understand the conflicting relationships between stuttering, anxiety-related safety behaviours and the need for open communication in AWS. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Twenty AWS participated in interviews, responding to open-ended questions to elucidate their affective, cognitive and behavioural experiences while wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to identify the emerging themes and subthemes based on information-rich quotes, employing a six-phase recursive process. Various speech and anxiety-related measures were used to describe the characteristics of the study participants. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Three main themes and sub-themes emerged. The first theme highlights communication challenges for AWS wearing masks, impacting verbal and nonverbal interactions. The second theme reveals AWS wearing masks to conceal stuttering cues, experiencing reduced stress. The third theme indicates that, despite the comfort in concealment, most AWS prefer speaking freely without a face mask. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The conflict between the desire for authentic, fluent communication and the ease of hiding stuttering symptoms poses a major dilemma for AWS. According to the results of this study, most adults who stutter prioritize open communication. However, there were some individual differences. A major factor influencing their decision was their fear of negative evaluation. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject The prevalence of social anxiety is higher among adults who stutter (AWS), possibly stemming from their prior negative experiences with stuttering. In response, AWS may adopt adaptive or maladaptive coping behaviours to manage stuttering and mitigate fears of negative evaluation. Maladaptive strategies, like avoiding certain communication situations, can diminish their satisfaction with everyday speaking situations. What this study adds This study leveraged the mask-wearing mandate during the pandemic to explore the intricate relationship between anxiety-related symptoms and communication. While some participants saw masks as a plausible means to conceal stuttering and anxiety, most preferred open communication without the challenges posed by masks. Our findings offer additional support for the varied emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses that AWS may display in response to changes in daily life, emphasizing the individual differences within this population and highlighting that stuttering goes beyond observable speech dysfluencies. What are the clinical implications of this work? Our study underscores the need for comprehensive therapeutic interventions addressing both the physical and cognitive-emotional aspects of stuttering in AWS. Recognizing the role of safety behaviours and self-focused attention emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach, enhancing communication efficacy and social well-being for AWS. Addressing speech fluency alone, without considering pertinent cognitive-emotional factors, falls short in providing adequate stuttering treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Karimi
- Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | | | - Sadaf Salehi
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
| | - Samira Aghadoost
- Speech Therapy Department, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Homans NC, Vroegop JL. The beneficial effect of transparent surgical masks on the communication of adults with hearing loss within clinical settings. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38976231 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2376171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Purpose: The study examined the benefits of transparent versus non-transparent surgical masks on the speech intelligibility in quiet of adult cochlear implant (CI) users, in conjunction with patient preferences and the acoustic effects of the different masks on the speech signal. Methods: Speech tracking test (STT) scores and acoustical characteristics were measured in quiet for live speech in three different conditions, without mask, with a non-transparent surgical mask and with a transparent surgical mask. Patients were asked about their experience with the face masks. The study sample consists of 30 patients using a cochlear implant. Results: We found a significant difference in speech perception among all conditions, with the speech tracking scores revealing a significant advantage when switching from the non-transparent surgical mask to the transparent one. The transparent surgical mask, although it does not transmit high frequencies effectively, seems to have minimal effect on speech comprehension in practice when lip movements are visible. This substantial benefit is further emphasized in the questionnaire, where 82% of the patients express a preference for the transparent surgical mask. Conclusion: The study highlights significant benefits for patients in speech intelligibility in quiet with the use of medically safe transparent facemasks. Transitioning from standard surgical masks to transparent masks demonstrates highly significant effectiveness and patient satisfaction for patients with hearing loss. This research strongly advocates for the implementation of transparent masks in broader hospital and perioperative settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke C Homans
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands
| | - Jantien L Vroegop
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands
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Shand R, Foster A, Baker C, O'Halloran R. Identifying communication difficulty and context-specific communication supports for patient-provider communication in a sub-acute setting: A prospective mixed methods study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38425157 DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2023.2289350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify the sub-acute rehabilitation inpatients who have communication difficulty and the range of communication supports that can facilitate communicative success. METHOD A prospective cohort mixed methods study was conducted on two inpatient sub-acute rehabilitation wards. Nurses screened all new admissions for communication difficulty using the Inpatient Functional Communication Interview, Screening Questionnaire (IFCI-SQ). Patients identified as having communication difficulty were interviewed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) using the Inpatient Functional Communication Interview (IFCI). During the interview, the SLP trialled different communication supports. The number of patients who had communication difficulty on the IFCI-SQ was calculated. The number and type of communication supports that improved communication within the patient-SLP interview were calculated. Deductive-dominant qualitative content analysis was conducted on the communication supports used during the IFCI. RESULT Seventy patients were screened. Nurses reported communication difficulty in 45/70 (64%) of patients. A total of 15/45 patients were interviewed by an SLP using the IFCI. The provision of communication supports improved communication for all patients within the context of the patient-SLP interview. CONCLUSION Many sub-acute rehabilitation inpatients have communication difficulty in the hospital setting. A range of communication supports facilitated communication. These insights could inform future communication partner training (CPT) programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind Shand
- Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Abby Foster
- Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Caroline Baker
- Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Robyn O'Halloran
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Melbourne, Australia
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Francis R, Leavitt M, McLelland C, Hamilton DF. The influence of facemasks on communication in healthcare settings: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2024; 46:637-649. [PMID: 36772816 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2176553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although a well-established aspect of healthcare practice, the impact of facemasks on verbal communication is surprisingly ambiguous. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search was conducted in APA PSYCHinfo, CINAHL, NHS Knowledge Network, Medline and SPORTDiscus databases from inception to November 2022 according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting an objective measure of speech understanding in adults, where information was transmitted or received whilst wearing a facemask were included. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa score. RESULTS Four hundred and thirty-three studies were identified, of which fifteen were suitable for inclusion, incorporating 350 participants with a median age of 49 (range 19 to 74) years. Wide heterogeneity of test parameters and outcome measurement prohibited pooling of data. 93% (14 of 15) studies reported a deleterious effect of facemasks on speech understanding, and 100% (5 of 5) of the included studies reported attenuation of sound with facemask usage. Background noise added further deleterious effects on speech understanding which was particularly problematic within hearing-impaired populations. Risk of bias in included studies varied but overall was modest. CONCLUSIONS Despite considerable complexity and heterogeneity in outcome measure, 93% (14 of 15) articles suggest respiratory protective equipment negatively affects speech understanding in normal hearing and hearing-impaired adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Francis
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael Leavitt
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin McLelland
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - David F Hamilton
- Research Centre for Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
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Haider CL, Park H, Hauswald A, Weisz N. Neural Speech Tracking Highlights the Importance of Visual Speech in Multi-speaker Situations. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:128-142. [PMID: 37977156 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Visual speech plays a powerful role in facilitating auditory speech processing and has been a publicly noticed topic with the wide usage of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a previous magnetoencephalography study, we showed that occluding the mouth area significantly impairs neural speech tracking. To rule out the possibility that this deterioration is because of degraded sound quality, in the present follow-up study, we presented participants with audiovisual (AV) and audio-only (A) speech. We further independently manipulated the trials by adding a face mask and a distractor speaker. Our results clearly show that face masks only affect speech tracking in AV conditions, not in A conditions. This shows that face masks indeed primarily impact speech processing by blocking visual speech and not by acoustic degradation. We can further highlight how the spectrogram, lip movements and lexical units are tracked on a sensor level. We can show visual benefits for tracking the spectrogram especially in the multi-speaker condition. While lip movements only show additional improvement and visual benefit over tracking of the spectrogram in clear speech conditions, lexical units (phonemes and word onsets) do not show visual enhancement at all. We hypothesize that in young normal hearing individuals, information from visual input is less used for specific feature extraction, but acts more as a general resource for guiding attention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nathan Weisz
- Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg
- Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg
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Silva MT, Occhi-Alexandre IGP, Teixeira LC. Association Between Vocal Symptoms, Communication, Work Environment, and Sense of Coherence in Hospital Health Professionals. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00370-3. [PMID: 38129270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to associate the presence of vocal symptoms with sociodemographic and occupational data, work environment self-perception, oral communication wearing a face mask, and the sense of coherence (SOC). METHOD This cross-sectional analytical observational study included 66 health professionals from a Brazilian hospital. They answered an online questionnaire on sociodemographic aspects, self-perception of the physical work environment, and oral communication at work. The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) and Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) were also applied. The significance level was set at 5% for the statistical analysis. RESULTS The self-perception of vocal symptoms was 62%. Professionals who considered the noise in their work environment unsatisfactory had more vocal symptoms (P = 0.005), especially in the limitation (P = 0.013) and physical (P = 0.028) domains of the VoiSS. Professionals with higher self-perceived vocal symptoms also reported incoordination between breathing, speech, and articulation (P = 0.041) and self-perceived difficulty being heard with a protective mask (P = 0.033). Professionals with a higher self-perceived score in the limitation domain of the VoiSS also had a higher self-perceived effort to speak with a mask (P = 0.035) and a higher self-perception that other people find it difficult to hear them with a face mask (P = 0.050). There was a weak negative correlation between VoiSS and SOC (P < 0.05) and between its domains (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Self-perception of voice symptoms is high among health professionals in a Brazilian public hospital. The presence of these symptoms is related to the perception of a noisy work environment and communication difficulties due to the use of a face mask. The lower the ability to cope with stressful situations, the larger the presence of voice symptoms among health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melyssa Tamietti Silva
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | | | - Letícia Caldas Teixeira
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Dillard LK, Nelson-Bakkum ER, Ouayogodé MH, Schultz A. Self-Reported Hearing Loss Is Associated With Poorer Health Care Access, Delays, and Communication With Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin COVID-19 Community Impact Survey. Am J Audiol 2023; 32:832-842. [PMID: 37672780 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-22-00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This article aimed to evaluate associations of self-reported hearing loss with health care access and delays and difficulties communicating with health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD The COVID-19 Community Impact Survey was administered online to a sample of participants from the population-based Survey of the Health of Wisconsin study cohort in Spring 2021. Hearing loss was defined as self-reported fair or poor hearing. Difficulty with health care access and delays were defined as self-reporting needing but not getting medical care or self-reporting delays in appointments due to COVID-19, respectively. Poor communication with health care providers was defined as self-reported difficulties communicating with health care providers due to wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between hearing loss and the health care outcomes. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). First, models were adjusted for age and sex. Next, models were additionally adjusted for education, race/ethnicity, self-rated health, and number of chronic conditions. RESULTS This study included 1,582 participants (62.3% women; 11.9% non-White; age range: 18-75+ years). The number of participants with hearing loss was 196 (12.4%). After multivariable adjustment, self-reported hearing loss was associated with poorer health care access (OR = 2.41, 95% CI [1.62, 3.59]), health care delays (OR = 1.93, 95% CI [1.37, 2.71]), and increased difficulty communicating with health care providers wearing face masks (OR = 3.31, 95% CI [2.15, 5.08]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on difficulties accessing and using health care are likely exacerbated for individuals with hearing loss. There is a need for interventions that will optimize health care experiences for individuals with hearing loss, particularly when face masks and/or telecommunications are used to provide health care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Dillard
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
| | - Erin R Nelson-Bakkum
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Mariétou H Ouayogodé
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Amy Schultz
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Yi H, Choudhury M, Hicks C. A Transparent Mask and Clear Speech Benefit Speech Intelligibility in Individuals With Hearing Loss. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023; 66:4558-4574. [PMID: 37788660 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-22-00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of the study is to investigate the impacts of a surgical mask and a transparent mask on audio-only and audiovisual speech intelligibility in noise (i.e., 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio) in individuals with mild-to-profound hearing loss. The study also examined if individuals with hearing loss can benefit from using a transparent mask and clear speech for speech understanding in noise. METHOD Thirty-one individuals with hearing loss (from 22 to 74 years old) completed keyword identification tasks to measure face-masked speech intelligibility in noise. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of face masks (no mask, transparent mask, surgical mask), presentation modes (audio only, audiovisual), speaking styles (conversational, clear), noise type (speech-shaped noise [SSN], four-talker babble [4-T babble]), hearing groups (mild hearing loss [MHL], greater than MHL: GHL), and their interactions on binary accuracy of keyword identification. RESULTS In the audio-only mode, the GHL group showed reduced speech intelligibility regardless of other factors, whereas the MHL group showed decreased speech intelligibility for the transparent mask more than for the surgical mask. The use of a transparent mask was advantageous for both hearing loss groups. Clear speech remediated the detrimental effects of face masks on speech intelligibility in noise. Both groups tended to perform better in SSN versus 4-T babble. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that, when using face masks, either a transparent mask or a surgical mask negatively affects speech understanding in noise for individuals with hearing loss. Using a transparent mask and clear speech could be a potential solution to improve speech intelligibility in communication with face masks in noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoyoung Yi
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Moumita Choudhury
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
| | - Candace Hicks
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
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Holm A, Dreyer P. Nurses' experiences of the phenomenon 'isolation communication'. Nurs Crit Care 2023; 28:885-892. [PMID: 36156341 DOI: 10.1111/nicc.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication with patients and relatives can be a challenge in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting because of the acute and critical situation. However, when caring for patients with infectious diseases like COVID-19, nurses' communication is challenged further due to the required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and mandatory isolation regimes. AIM To explore nurses' experiences of communicating while wearing PPE during COVID-19 isolation precautions in the ICU. STUDY DESIGN A qualitative study within the phenomenological-hermeneutic tradition. Data were collected via 12 interviews with nurses working in a Danish ICU from September to November 2020. Data were analysed using a Ricoeur-inspired text interpretation method. FINDINGS Three themes emerged during the analysis: (1) communication was limited and distanced and nurses had to compromise; (2) the nurses' senses were reduced, and verbal and nonverbal communication practises changed; and (3) patients' and relatives' communicative vulnerability were exposed in an extraordinary situation. CONCLUSION The analysis revealed a phenomenon that can be described as 'isolation communication'. The isolation precautions and use of PPE had a profound impact on the nurses' caring and communicative practices, which were limited in this situation. The nurses found themselves physically, emotionally and socially distanced from the patients, relatives and their colleagues. However, to prevent the spread of the virus, isolation communication is something that the nurses have to endure. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE As our findings show that the nurses' communicative practises had to change during isolation communication, it is important for clinical practise and education to focus on implementing communication methods that optimise message transmission between ICU clinicians, patients and relatives in conditions requiring PPE and isolation. We should also focus on how to optimise interdisciplinary health communication in this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Holm
- Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pia Dreyer
- Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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James TG, Panko T, Smith LD, Helm KVT, Katz GR, Caballero ME, Cooley MM, Mitra M, McKee MM. Healthcare communication access among deaf and hard-of-hearing people during pregnancy. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2023; 112:107743. [PMID: 37060682 PMCID: PMC10167864 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people report ineffective healthcare communication. Limited research has been conducted on healthcare communication during pregnancy. This study's aim was to assess communication accommodations and experiences during pregnancy for DHH people. METHODS An accessible web-based survey was administered to a non-probability sample of DHH people through national organizations, social media, and snowball sampling. Eligibility criteria included being 21 years or older; given birth in the U.S. within the past 10 years, report hearing loss prior to the most recent birth. Questions focused on healthcare experiences and information access during their last pregnancy. The sample included 583 respondents for the present analysis. We describe the communication accommodations requested and received during pregnancy, segmented by preferred language. RESULTS Most DHH participants reported communication with prenatal clinicians as "good" or "very good". On-site interpreter services were most commonly requested by American Sign Language (ASL) only and bilingual DHH people. Interpersonal communication modification requests (e.g., speaking louder) were rarely obliged. CONCLUSION This study is the first national examination of requested and received communication accommodations for DHH patients during the perinatal period. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Healthcare providers should work closely with patients to ensure effective communication access is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G James
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Tiffany Panko
- Deaf Health Laboratory, Center for Culture and Language, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Lauren D Smith
- Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Kaila V T Helm
- Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle R Katz
- Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | - Margarita M Cooley
- Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Monika Mitra
- Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Michael M McKee
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Hammer A, Coene M. The impact of COVID-19 on communicative accessibility and well-being in adults with hearing impairment: a survey study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:652. [PMID: 37020225 PMCID: PMC10073781 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15514-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 measures, such as face masks, have clear consequences for the communicative accessibility of people with hearing impairment because they reduce speech perception. As communication is essential to participate in society, this might have impact on their mental well-being. This study was set out to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 measures on the communicative accessibility and well-being of adults with hearing impairment. METHOD Two groups of adults took part in this study, with (N = 150) and without (N = 50) hearing loss. The participants answered statements on a five point Likert-scale. Statements regarding communicative accessibility involved speech perception abilities, behavioral changes and access to information. Well-being was measured at the overall level in daily community life and at work, and in particular also with respect to perceived stress. We asked participants with hearing impairment on their audiological needs during the pandemic. RESULTS Significant group differences were found on speech perception abilities due to COVID-19 measures. Behavioral changes were observed to compensate for the loss in speech perception. Hearing loss was associated with an increased request for repetition or for removal of the face mask. Using information technology (e.g. Zoom) or contacting colleagues did not pose any major problems for the hearing group, whereas participants with hearing loss gave mixed responses. A significant difference emerged between groups on well-being in daily life, but not on well-being at work or perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the detrimental effect of COVID-19 measures on the communicative accessibility of individuals with hearing loss. It also shows their resilience as only partial group differences were found on well-being. Protective factors are indicated, such as access to information and audiological care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemiek Hammer
- Faculty of Humanities, Applied Linguistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Martine Coene
- Faculty of Humanities, Applied Linguistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Chirinos JD, Turco IS, Di Fenza R, Gianni S, Larson GM, Swingle JF, Akeju O, Berra L. Patient hesitancy in perioperative clinical trial enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279643. [PMID: 36649289 PMCID: PMC9844839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous disruptions to non-COVID-19 clinical research. However, there has been little investigation on how patients themselves have responded to clinical trial recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of patient consent to enrollment into non-COVID-19 clinical trials, we carried out a cross-sectional study using data from the Nitric Oxide/Acute Kidney Injury (NO/AKI) and Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-Induced Sleep (MINDDS) trials. All patients eligible for the NO/AKI or MINDDS trials who came to the hospital for cardiac surgery and were approached to gain consent to enrollment were included in the current study. We defined "Before COVID-19" as the time between the start of the relevant clinical trial and the date when efforts toward that clinical trial were deescalated by the hospital due to COVID-19. We defined "During COVID-19" as the time between trial de-escalation and trial completion. 5,015 patients were screened for eligibility. 3,851 were excluded, and 1,434 were approached to gain consent to enrollment. The rate of consent to enrollment was 64% in the "Before COVID-19" group and 45% in the "During COVID-19" group (n = 1,334, P<0.001) (RR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.80, P<0.001). Thus, we found that rates of consent to enrollment into the NO/AKI and MINDDS trials dropped significantly with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient demographic and socioeconomic status data collected from electronic medical records and patient survey data did not shed light on possible explanations for this observed drop, indicating that there were likely other factors at play that were not directly measured in the current study. Increased patient hesitancy to enroll in clinical trials can have detrimental effects on clinical science, patient health, and patient healthcare experience, so understanding and addressing this issue during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue D. Chirinos
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Isabella S. Turco
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Raffaele Di Fenza
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stefano Gianni
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Grant M. Larson
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Joseph F. Swingle
- Department of Sociology, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Oluwaseun Akeju
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Berra
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Respiratory Care Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Wagemann J, Tewes C, Raggatz J. Wearing face masks impairs dyadic micro-activities in nonverbal social encounter: A mixed-methods first-person study on the sense of I and Thou. Front Psychol 2022; 13:983652. [PMID: 36591068 PMCID: PMC9798329 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.983652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has manifold negative consequences for people around the world, of which the psychosocial ones have been rather underrepresented in the public eye. Regarding social distancing measures, there is already some experimental work demonstrating that the use of face masks has detrimental effects on various aspects of social cognition such as emotion reading, face identification, and perceived closeness of persons. However, while these findings provide important clues, they do not shed light on what people experience when interacting in real life in a masked society. Therefore, in critical distance to cognitivist accounts and taking Direct Social Perception (DSP) approaches seriously, we developed a first-person experimental design and conducted a study with thirty-four participants in a dyadic setting with two conditions (without vs. with face mask). Data were analyzed with mixed methods including in-depth qualitative coding at three levels, code relations analyses, and various statistical tests. Results yielded significant differences across conditions at all qualitative levels, comprising, for example, expressive behavior, and, in particular, significant decreases of content-independent, complimentary mental micro-activities. In the context of DSP, we argue in the paper that these activities suggest the constitution of a quasi-sensory modality - conceived as I-Thou sense - that oscillates between strongly and weakly embodied mental activities, as the analyses show. In sum, this study suggests that mask-wearing impairs both functional directions of mental activity in relation to more or less embodied experience and thus intervenes deeply in fundamental processes of social perception and interaction.
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18
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Nigam M, Neupane AK. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults Using Hearing aid/s: Indian Scenario. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 75:155-162. [PMID: 36532234 PMCID: PMC9734753 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-022-03209-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study explored the impact of COVID-19 on hearing health and problems faced by older adults using hearing aid/s. Fifty older adults in the age range of 55–95 years were selected for the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Therefore, the developed questionnaire was administered to them. Statistical analysis was performed for all the responses achieved. Closure of hearing aid companies and audiological centers was found to have a negative impact on availing audiological services. Likewise, a huge hike in the price of these services made it impossible for people to afford them. Despite the availability of tele-audiology, older adults were not able to make the best use of it due to numerous reasons. We sought to explore patients’ perceptions to break down these barriers by enhancing the quality of tele-audiology, home visits, and remote services. Therefore, the present report may facilitate in planning and implementation of policies related to audiological services, especially during times of crisis, which may help strengthen our hearing health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Nigam
- School of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), 411043 Pune, India
| | - Anuj Kumar Neupane
- School of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), 411043 Pune, India
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Vikas MD, Jain C, Umashankar A. Effect of Use of N-95 Mask on Aided Speech Identification Scores in Older Adults with Hearing Loss. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 75:112-114. [DOI: 10.1007/s12070-022-03176-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Mendel LL, Pousson MA, Shukla B, Sander K, Larson B. Listening Effort and Speech Perception Performance Using Different Facemasks. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:4354-4368. [PMID: 36215671 DOI: 10.1044/2022_jslhr-22-00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess the effect of eight different facemasks on speech perception and listening effort in listeners with normal hearing (NH) and hearing loss by manipulating both mask type and background noise levels. METHOD Forty adults listened to Quick Speech-in-Noise Test sentences recorded by a female talker through eight different facemasks including a baseline condition with no mask. Listeners were tested in the sound field positioned 6 ft from the loudspeaker. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss and listening effort were measured. RESULTS Listeners with NH exhibited a mild SNR loss, whereas those with hearing loss experienced a moderate SNR loss. Scores for the mild hearing loss group were significantly poorer (higher) than those with slight hearing loss. Speech perception performance was best in the no mask, KN95, and surgical mask conditions and poorest in the cloth mask and cloth mask plus face shield conditions for all groups. As listening effort decreased, speech perception increased for all groups. CONCLUSIONS The impact of different types of facemasks on speech perception in noise was demonstrated in this study indicating that as the SNR was reduced, listening effort increased and speech perception performance decreased for listeners with NH and slight/mild hearing loss. No mask, KN95, and surgical masks had the least impact on performance, whereas cloth masks posed a significant detriment to communication. If communication is to occur in a background of noise while wearing masks, a KN95 mask and an SNR of at least +15 dB is recommended regardless of hearing status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lucks Mendel
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, TN
- Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, TN
| | - Monique A Pousson
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, TN
| | - Bhanu Shukla
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, TN
- Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, TN
| | - Kara Sander
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, TN
| | - Brooke Larson
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Memphis, TN
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21
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McKee M, James TG, Helm KVT, Marzolf B, Chung DH, Williams J, Zazove P. Reframing Our Health Care System for Patients With Hearing Loss. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:3633-3645. [PMID: 35969852 PMCID: PMC9802570 DOI: 10.1044/2022_jslhr-22-00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nearly 20% of U.S. Americans report a hearing loss, yet our current health care system is poorly designed and equipped to effectively care for these individuals. Individuals with hearing loss report communication breakdowns, inaccessible health information, reduced awareness and training by health care providers, and decreased satisfaction while struggling with inadequate health literacy. These all contribute to health inequities and increased health care expenditures and inefficiencies. It is time to reframe the health care system for these individuals using existing models of best practices and accessibility to mitigate inequities and improve quality of care. METHOD A review of system-, clinic-, provider-, and patient-level barriers, along with existing and suggested efforts to improve care for individuals with hearing loss, are presented. RESULTS These strategies include improving screening and identification of hearing loss, adopting universal design and inclusion principles, implementing effective communication approaches, leveraging assistive technologies and training, and diversifying a team to better care for patients with hearing loss. Patients should also be encouraged to seek social support and resources from hearing loss organizations while leveraging technologies to help facilitate communication. CONCLUSIONS The strategies described introduce actionable steps that can be made at the system, clinic, provider, and patient levels. With implementation of these steps, significant progress can be made to more proactively meet the needs of patients with hearing loss. Presentation Video: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21215843.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael McKee
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Tyler G. James
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Kaila V. T. Helm
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Brianna Marzolf
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Dana H. Chung
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - John Williams
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson
| | - Philip Zazove
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
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Cavallaro G, Murri A, Nelson E, Gorrasi R, Quaranta N. The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Survey Study. Audiol Res 2022; 12:518-526. [PMID: 36285909 PMCID: PMC9598621 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres12050052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spread through Europe in the first months of 2020. On the 9th of March 2020, the Italian government ordered a national lock-down. The study’s objectives were: to investigate the effect of lockdown on CI users; and to detect the difference in the perception of discomfort existing between unilateral cochlear implant (UCI) users and bilateral cochlear implant (BCI) users, due to the lockdown experience. Methods: A 17-item, web-based, anonymous online survey was administered to 57 CI users, exploring hearing performance, emotions, practical issues, behavior, and tinnitus. Participation in the study was voluntary. Results: all CI users obtained an abnormal score in all questionnaire themes. For the emotion theme and the practical issue theme, the age range 61–90 showed a significant difference between UCI and BCI users in favor of BCI users (emotion theme: UCI mean = 3.9, BCI mean = 2.3, p = 0.0138; practical issues: UCI mean = 4, BCI mean = 3, p = 0.0031). Conclusions: CI users experienced the lockdown negatively as regards behavior, emotions, hearing performance, and in practical issues. CI subjects with UCI in old age suffered more from the experience of lockdown than subjects with BCI in the same age, with regards to emotions and practical issues.
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Gutierrez-Sigut E, Lamarche VM, Rowley K, Lago EF, Pardo-Guijarro MJ, Saenz I, Frigola B, Frigola S, Aliaga D, Goldberg L. How do face masks impact communication amongst deaf/HoH people? Cogn Res Princ Implic 2022; 7:81. [PMID: 36063244 PMCID: PMC9443624 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-022-00431-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Face coverings have been key in reducing the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, they have hindered interpersonal communication, particularly for those who rely on speechreading to aid communication. The available research indicated that deaf/hard of hearing (HoH) people experienced great difficulty communicating with people wearing masks and negative effects on wellbeing. Here we extended these findings by exploring which factors predict deaf/HoH people’s communication difficulties, loss of information, and wellbeing. We also explored the factors predicting perceived usefulness of transparent face coverings and alternative ways of communicating. We report the findings from an accessible survey study, released in two written and three signed languages. Responses from 395 deaf/HoH UK and Spanish residents were collected online at a time when masks were mandatory. We investigated whether onset and level of deafness, knowledge of sign language, speechreading fluency, and country of residence predicted communication difficulties, wellbeing, and degree to which transparent face coverings were considered useful. Overall, deaf/HoH people and their relatives used masks most of the time despite greater communication difficulties. Late-onset deaf people were the group that experienced more difficulties in communication, and also reported lower wellbeing. However, both early- and late-onset deaf people reported missing more information and feeling more disconnected from society than HoH people. Finally, signers valued transparent face shields more positively than non-signers. The latter suggests that, while seeing the lips is positive to everyone, signers appreciate seeing the whole facial expression. Importantly, our data also revealed the importance of visual communication other than speechreading to facilitate face-to-face interactions. Late-onset deaf people experienced more difficulties in communication and low wellbeing. Severely/profoundly deaf people missed more information and felt disconnected from society. Signers preferred completely transparent face coverings. More frequent use of masks doesn’t necessarily imply more difficulty communicating. Visual communication, pro-social behaviour, and societal structure might help easing communication.
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Madahana MC, Khoza-Shangase K, Moroe N, Mayombo D, Nyandoro O, Ekoru J. A proposed artificial intelligence-based real-time speech-to-text to sign language translator for South African official languages for the COVID-19 era and beyond: In pursuit of solutions for the hearing impaired. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2022; 69:e1-e11. [PMID: 36073078 PMCID: PMC9452925 DOI: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in communication being heightened as one of the critical aspects in the implementation of interventions. Delays in the relaying of vital information by policymakers have the potential to be detrimental, especially for the hearing impaired. Objectives This study aims to conduct a scoping review on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time speech-to-text to sign language translation and consequently propose an AI-based real-time translation solution for South African languages from speech-to-text to sign language. Methods Electronic bibliographic databases including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE and ProQuest were searched to identify peer-reviewed publications published in English between 2019 and 2021 that provided evidence on AI-based real-time speech-to-text to sign language translation as a solution for the hearing impaired. This review was done as a precursor to the proposed real-time South African translator. Results The review revealed a dearth of evidence on the adoption and/or maximisation of AI and machine learning (ML) as possible solutions for the hearing impaired. There is a clear lag in clinical utilisation and investigation of these technological advances, particularly in the African continent. Conclusion Assistive technology that caters specifically for the South African community is essential to ensuring a two-way communication between individuals who can hear clearly and individuals with hearing impairments, thus the proposed solution presented in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milka C Madahana
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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Khoza-Shangase K. Cochleovestibular findings linked to COVID-19: A scoping review for clinical care planning in South Africa. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2022; 69:e1-e12. [PMID: 36073075 PMCID: PMC9452924 DOI: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared an outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a global health emergency. Research has focused on the impact and response to life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19 across the lifespan; however, there is a need to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system, as viral infections are known to impact this system. This is particularly important for contexts where resources are limited and prioritisation of resources requires strong risk versus benefit evaluations. Objective Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to investigate published evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system across the lifespan in order to allow for strategic clinical care planning in South Africa, where capacity versus demand challenges exist. Methods Electronic bibliographic databases such as CINAHL, EBSCOHost, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect were searched for peer-reviewed publications between January 2020 and January 2022. These had to be published in English and related to the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system, where the question was: ‘what evidence has been published on the impact of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system?’ Review selection and characterisation was performed by the researcher with an independent review by a colleague using pretested forms. Results Of a total of 24 studies that met the inclusion criteria, the current scoping review revealed limited conclusive published evidence linking COVID-19 to permanent hearing function symptoms. Current evidence supports the possibility of COVID-19, similar to other viral infections in adults, impacting the cochleovestibular system and causing tinnitus, vertigo and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), with the symptoms being generally temporary and resolving either partially or completely following therapy with steroids, with very inconclusive findings in the paediatric population. Conclusion These findings raise global implications for properly designed studies, which include longitudinal follow-up of cases across the lifespan, examining this link with some focus on establishing the pathophysiologic mechanisms at play as well. In the meanwhile, current findings raise the value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for all patients presenting with unexplained cochleovestibular symptoms during the pandemic, as these may be the only presenting symptoms indicating COVID-19, thus requiring careful treatment and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katijah Khoza-Shangase
- Department of Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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Haider CL, Suess N, Hauswald A, Park H, Weisz N. Masking of the mouth area impairs reconstruction of acoustic speech features and higher-level segmentational features in the presence of a distractor speaker. Neuroimage 2022; 252:119044. [PMID: 35240298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Multisensory integration enables stimulus representation even when the sensory input in a single modality is weak. In the context of speech, when confronted with a degraded acoustic signal, congruent visual inputs promote comprehension. When this input is masked, speech comprehension consequently becomes more difficult. But it still remains inconclusive which levels of speech processing are affected under which circumstances by occluding the mouth area. To answer this question, we conducted an audiovisual (AV) multi-speaker experiment using naturalistic speech. In half of the trials, the target speaker wore a (surgical) face mask, while we measured the brain activity of normal hearing participants via magnetoencephalography (MEG). We additionally added a distractor speaker in half of the trials in order to create an ecologically difficult listening situation. A decoding model on the clear AV speech was trained and used to reconstruct crucial speech features in each condition. We found significant main effects of face masks on the reconstruction of acoustic features, such as the speech envelope and spectral speech features (i.e. pitch and formant frequencies), while reconstruction of higher level features of speech segmentation (phoneme and word onsets) were especially impaired through masks in difficult listening situations. As we used surgical face masks in our study, which only show mild effects on speech acoustics, we interpret our findings as the result of the missing visual input. Our findings extend previous behavioural results, by demonstrating the complex contextual effects of occluding relevant visual information on speech processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Leon Haider
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Nina Suess
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria
| | - Anne Hauswald
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hyojin Park
- School of Psychology & Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nathan Weisz
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria; Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Mcleod RWJ, Gallagher M, Hall A, Bant SP, Culling JF. Acoustic analysis of the effect of personal protective equipment on speech understanding: lessons for clinical environments. Int J Audiol 2022:1-6. [DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2070780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andy Hall
- ENT Department, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sarah P. Bant
- Audiology Department, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Bangor, UK
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Bent T, Baese-Berk M, Ryherd E, Perry S. Intelligibility of medically related sentences in quiet, speech-shaped noise, and hospital noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 151:3496. [PMID: 35649935 DOI: 10.1121/10.0011394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Noise in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, often exceeds levels recommended by health organizations. Although researchers and medical professionals have raised concerns about the effect of these noise levels on spoken communication, objective measures of behavioral intelligibility in hospital noise are lacking. Further, no studies of intelligibility in hospital noise used medically relevant terminology, which may differentially impact intelligibility compared to standard terminology in speech perception research and is essential for ensuring ecological validity. Here, intelligibility was measured using online testing for 69 young adult listeners in three listening conditions (i.e., quiet, speech-shaped noise, and hospital noise: 23 listeners per condition) for four sentence types. Three sentence types included medical terminology with varied lexical frequency and familiarity characteristics. A final sentence set included non-medically related sentences. Results showed that intelligibility was negatively impacted by both noise types with no significant difference between the hospital and speech-shaped noise. Medically related sentences were not less intelligible overall, but word recognition accuracy was significantly positively correlated with both lexical frequency and familiarity. These results support the need for continued research on how noise levels in healthcare settings in concert with less familiar medical terminology impact communications and ultimately health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Bent
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, USA
| | - Melissa Baese-Berk
- Department of Linguistics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1290, USA
| | - Erica Ryherd
- Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Omaha, Nebraska 68182-0816, USA
| | - Sydney Perry
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, USA
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29
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Meng X, Wang J, Sun J, Zhu K. COVID-19 and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review. Front Neurol 2022; 13:883749. [PMID: 35572936 PMCID: PMC9096262 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.883749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that patients with the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have a risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The pathogenesis of COVID-19-related SSNHL remains unclear. This systematic review examined whether COVID-19 causes an increased incidence of SSNHL and the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19-related SSNHL according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. SSNHL usually developed between a few days and 2 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19, and a proportion of patients developed it before the diagnosis of COVID-19. The literature is inconsistent regarding whether COVID-19 causes an increased incidence of SSNHL, and this matter remains unclear. This review included 23 patients with COVID-19-related SSNHL, all adult patients with an average age of 43.1 years. Of these patients, 60.9% had accompanying tinnitus symptoms. Glucocorticoids are the preferred medication to treat COVID-19-related SSNHL. Intratympanic administration may be considered to reduce the side effects of the drug. Hearing tests are suggested when hearing loss is suspected in COVID-19 individuals, and if SSNHL is detected, prompt and aggressive treatment is vital. Large-scale, multicenter research on the pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19- related SSNHL should be conducted in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangming Meng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Wuxi Huishan District People's Hospital, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Xiangming Meng
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Huadong Sanatorium, Wuxi, China
| | - Jian Sun
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Kangxu Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Wuxi Huishan District People's Hospital, Wuxi, China
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30
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Oosthuizen I, Saunders GH, Manchaiah V, Swanepoel DW. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Virus (COVID-19) Preventative Measures on Communication: A Scoping Review. Front Public Health 2022; 10:815259. [PMID: 35419343 PMCID: PMC8995421 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.815259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Face coverings and distancing as preventative measures against the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 may impact communication in several ways that may disproportionately affect people with hearing loss. A scoping review was conducted to examine existing literature on the impact of preventative measures on communication and to characterize the clinical implications. Method A systematic search of three electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL) was conducted yielding 2,158 articles. After removing duplicates and screening to determine inclusion eligibility, key data were extracted from the 50 included articles. Findings are reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews, including the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Results Studies fell into three categories: Studies addressing the impacts of personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or distancing on communication in healthcare contexts (n = 20); studies examining the impact of preventative measures on communication in everyday life (n = 13), and studies measuring the impact of face coverings on speech using acoustic and/or behavioral measures (n = 29). The review revealed that masks disrupt verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as emotional and social wellbeing and they impact people with hearing loss more than those without. These findings are presumably because opaque masks attenuate sound at frequencies above 1 kHz, and conceal the mouth and lips making lipreading impossible, and limit visibility of facial expressions. While surgical masks cause relatively little sound attenuation, transparent masks and face shields are highly attenuating. However, they are preferred by people with hearing loss because they give access to visual cues. Conclusion Face coverings and social distancing has detrimental effects that extend well beyond verbal and non-verbal communication, by affecting wellbeing and quality of life. As these measures will likely be part of everyday life for the foreseeable future, we propose that it is necessary to support effective communication, especially in healthcare settings and for people with hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilze Oosthuizen
- Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative Between University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States, and University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gabrielle H. Saunders
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Vinaya Manchaiah
- Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative Between University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States, and University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - De Wet Swanepoel
- Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative Between University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States, and University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, WA, Australia
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Jarach CM, Lugo A, Stival C, Bosetti C, Amerio A, Cavalieri d'Oro L, Iacoviello L, Odone A, Stuckler D, Zucchi A, van den Brandt P, Garavello W, Cederroth CR, Schlee W, Gallus S. The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Tinnitus and Hearing Loss in Older Adults: Data From the LOST in Lombardia Study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:838291. [PMID: 35330807 PMCID: PMC8940241 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.838291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although a direct relationship between tinnitus or hearing difficulties and COVID-19 has been suggested, current literature provides inconsistent results, and no research has been undertaken in older adults. Methods In November 2020, we conducted the LOST in Lombardia survey, a telephone-based cross-sectional study on a sample of 4,400 individuals representative of the general population aged ≥65 years from Lombardy region, Northern Italy. Individuals with diagnosed tinnitus and/or hearing loss were asked whether their conditions had improved or deteriorated in 2020 compared to 2019. Results Overall, 8.1% of older adults reported a diagnosis of tinnitus and 10.5% of hearing loss. In 2020 compared to 2019, among individuals with tinnitus, those with increasing severity (5.0%) were similar to those decreasing it (5.3%). Among individuals with hearing loss, more people reported an increase (13.6%) than a decrease (3.2%) in their disease severity. No individual with a diagnosis in 2020 of tinnitus (n = 6) or hearing loss (n = 13) had COVID-19. The incidence of tinnitus was lower in 2020 (rate: 14.8 per 10,000 person-years) than in previous years (rate in 1990–2019: 36.0 per 10,000 person-years; p = 0.026). There was no change in the incidence of hearing loss (p = 0.134). Conclusions In this large representative sample of older adults, on average neither COVID-19 confinement nor SARS-CoV-2 infection appeared to increase the severity or incidence of tinnitus. The increased severity of hearing difficulties may totally or partially be explained by physiologic deterioration of the condition, or by a misperception due to the use of face-masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Micaela Jarach
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lugo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Stival
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Bosetti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Licia Iacoviello
- Research Center in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.,Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Anna Odone
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Social Sciences and Politics, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Piet van den Brandt
- Department of Epidemiology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI-School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Werner Garavello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Christopher R Cederroth
- Laboratory of Experimental Audiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Hearing Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Winfried Schlee
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Silvano Gallus
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Alkharabsheh A, Aboudi O, Abdulbaqi K, Garadat S. The effect of wearing face mask on speech intelligibility in listeners with sensorineural hearing loss and normal hearing sensitivity. Int J Audiol 2022; 62:328-333. [PMID: 35235469 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2045366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of wearing a face mask on word recognition in hearing-impaired listeners. DESIGN Word recognition scores were obtained in quiet and in different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs 0, +5, and +10 dB) using two listening conditions (with N95 mask and with no-mask). STUDY SAMPLE Participants were forty-six listeners with normal hearing sensitivity and thirty-nine listeners with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS Results showed that wearing a face mask affected word recognition and that this effect was greater for listeners with hearing impairment than that observed for listeners with normal hearing sensitivity. The extent of this effect was also dependent on the SNR conditions such that the effect of wearing a face mask was worse in adverse listening conditions. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study demonstrated that face mask can disrupt speech intelligibility possibly by degrading some acoustical features which may pose substantial difficulties for those with hearing impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana'am Alkharabsheh
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ola Aboudi
- Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, University of Jordan Hospital, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Khader Abdulbaqi
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.,Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, University of Jordan Hospital, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Soha Garadat
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Zivkovic Marinkov EM, Rancic NK, Milisavljevic DR, Stankovic MD, Milosevic VD, Malobabic MM, Popovic IN, Ignjatovic AM, Bojanovic MR, Stojanovic JD. Impact of Sensorineural Hearing Loss during the Pandemic of COVID-19 on the Appearance of Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety and Stress. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58020233. [PMID: 35208557 PMCID: PMC8874618 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58020233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. The incidence of hearing loss is constantly increasing and according to the World Health Organization, by 2050, 900 million people will suffer from hearing loss. The main Objective of the study was to determine the differences between the severity of the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in participants with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional aim was to examine the extent and manner in which protective face masks impact the communication of people with hearing loss. Matrials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 160 patients (81 men and 79 women) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The patients’ age range was 50 to 80 years. Depending on the degree of hearing loss or pure-tone threshold, the participants were divided into four groups: mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss and profound hearing loss. The research used the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and a questionnaire in which the participants reported whether surgical face masks (medical three-layer masks) worn by speakers makes communication difficult, to what extent and in what way. Results: The average age of the patients was 67.97 ± 8.16. A significant correlation was found between the degree of hearing loss and communication difficulties caused by the use of protective face masks (p < 0.001). For patients with severe and profound hearing loss, communication is significantly more difficult (50.0% and 45.0% respectively) when the interlocutor wears a face mask. There is a significant correlation between the degree of hearing loss and the way in which communication is made more difficult when the interlocutor wears a face mask (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was determined between the degrees of hearing loss in all measured subscales: stress (p = 0.024), anxiety (p = 0.026) and depression (p = 0.016). Conclusions: We have determined that face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hamper communication among the study groups (p = 0.007) and there is a significant correlation between the degree of sensorineural hearing loss and the presence of symptoms in all three DASS-21 subscales, meaning that the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression were more intense in severe and profound hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilija M. Zivkovic Marinkov
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Natasa K. Rancic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- Institute for Public Health Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
- Correspondence:
| | - Dusan R. Milisavljevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Milan D. Stankovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Vuk D. Milosevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- Clinic for Neurology, University Clinical Center of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia;
| | | | - Irena N. Popovic
- Special Psyhiatric Hospital Gornja Toponica Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia;
| | - Aleksandra M. Ignjatovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- Institute for Public Health Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Mila R. Bojanovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia; (E.M.Z.M.); (D.R.M.); (M.D.S.); (V.D.M.); (A.M.I.); (M.R.B.)
- ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Jasmina D. Stojanovic
- Department of Otorhinolaringology, Clinical Center Kragijevac, 34 000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
- Faculty of Medical Science, University of Science Kragujevac, 34 000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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Aliabadi M, Aghamiri ZS, Farhadian M, Shafiee Motlagh M, Hamidi Nahrani M. The Influence of Face Masks on Verbal Communication in Persian in the Presence of Background Noise in Healthcare Staff. ACOUSTICS AUSTRALIA 2022; 50:127-137. [PMID: 35095185 PMCID: PMC8789375 DOI: 10.1007/s40857-021-00260-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wearing face masks has resulted in verbal communication being more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the effect of face masks on the speech comprehensibility of Persian nurses in healthcare settings. Twenty female nurses from the governmental hospitals randomly participated in an experiment on seven typical commercial face masks at two background noise levels. Nurses' speech intelligibility from a human talker when wearing each face mask was determined based on the speech discrimination score. The vocal effort of nurses wearing each face mask was determined based on the Borg CR10 scale. Based on the linear mixed model, the speech intelligibility of nurses from a human speaker wearing surgical masks, N95 masks, and a shield with face masks were approximately 10%, 20%, and 40-50% lower, respectively, than no-mask conditions (p < 0.01). The background noise decreased the speech intelligibility of nurses by approximately 22% (p < 0.01). The use of a face shield further decreased speech intelligibility up to 30% compared to using a face mask alone (p < 0.01). The vocal efforts of nurses when wearing surgical masks were not significant compared with the baseline vocal efforts (p > 0.05); however, vocal efforts of nurses when wearing N95 and N99 respirators were at an unacceptable level. The face masks had no considerable effect on the speech spectrum below 2.5 kHz; however, they reduced high frequencies by different values. Wearing face masks has a considerable impact on the verbal communication of nurses in Persian. The level of background noise in the healthcare setting can aggravate the effect sizes of face masks on speech comprehensibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Aliabadi
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 4171-65175, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Zahra Sadat Aghamiri
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 4171-65175, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Maryam Farhadian
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Masoud Shafiee Motlagh
- Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 4171-65175, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Morteza Hamidi Nahrani
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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