The Effect of Masks and Respirators on Acoustic Voice Analysis During the COVID-19 Pandemic


Gojayev E. K., Büyükatalay Z. Ç., AKYÜZ T., Rehan M., DURSUN G.

Journal of Voice, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.11.014
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Voice
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Index, EMBASE, International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance (IBTD), Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MEDLINE, Music Index, Music Periodicals Database, RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Acoustic voice analysis, COVID-19, Level 3, Level of evidence, Mask
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objectives: World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and reliability of voice analysis performed with surgical masks and respirators during the pandemic and to discuss its routine applicability. Methods: This prospective study included 204 patients who applied to our clinic between the ages of 18 and 55, whose preoperative SARS-Cov-2 PCR tests were negative. Voice analyses were performed on each patient without a mask, with a surgical mask and with a valved face-filtering piece-3 (FFP3) respirator respectively. The F0, shimmer, jitter, s/z ratio, maximum phonation time and harmonic/noise ratio (HNR) values obtained from the voice analyses were compared with each other. Results: No significant difference was found in terms of F0, Jitter, Shimmer, HNR, s/z and maximum phonation time values in the voice analyses performed without a mask and with a surgical mask. With an FFP3, a significant difference was found in only the Shimmer and HNR values compared to the other analysis values. When we look at the data with sex distinction, in the group of female and male patients, when the data of voice analysis obtained in three situations were compared, different results were obtained from the female and male group. Conclusion: In conclusion, it should be decided by the physician to perform the voice analysis with a surgical mask or with an FFP3, considering the clinically desired parameters.