![]() ![]() In listening tests with audiovisual recordings of talkers, transparent masks improved intelligibility for listeners with severe-to-profound hearing loss compared to opaque paper masks ( Atcherson et al., 2017). They also found an inverse relationship between breathability and droplet-blocking efficiency.īecause both medical and cloth face masks obstruct visual cues that contribute to speech intelligibility ( Llamas et al., 2008), there has been growing interest in transparent face coverings such as plastic shields and face masks with windows ( Atcherson et al., 2020 Wolfe et al., 2020). (2020) found that single-layer masks made of t-shirt fabric were among the most porous materials studied, but three-layer masks performed as well as medical masks. Masks with more layers were more efficient. (2020) found filtration efficiency to be higher for densely woven cotton and hybrid fabrics than for loosely woven cotton. Recent studies suggest that the efficacy of cloth masks at blocking respiratory droplets depends on the fabric material, weave, and number of layers. ![]() To conserve supplies of medical masks, health authorities have recommended cloth masks, which can be made from household materials or purchased commercially. Listening tests using audio-only recordings made with medical masks have not shown significant effects on speech intelligibility ( Mendel et al., 2008 Palmiero et al., 2016 Thomas et al., 2011). Recent acoustic studies have shown that surgical masks and N95 respirators can attenuate higher-frequency sounds by between 3 and 12 dB ( Atcherson et al., 2020 Goldin et al., 2020 Wolfe et al., 2020). Most prior research on masked speech has focused on medical equipment such as surgical masks and N95 respirators. ![]() ![]() By studying the acoustic effects of masks on speech signals, we can learn which masks are best for speech transmission and find ways to make communication easier. However, it can be difficult to understand speech when the talker is wearing a mask, especially for listeners with hearing loss ( Chodosh et al., 2020 Tucci, 2020). As the world works to control the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, face masks are expected to prove critical to slowing the spread of the virus. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |