Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia

Abstract Objective Medical masks have been shown to significantly influence speech communication in healthy people. The effect of mask‐wearing on phonatory capability and daily communication exchanges in patients with voice disorders remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of the medical mask on aco...

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Main Authors: Jing‐Lin Su, Jing Kang, Qin‐Yi Ren, Zhi‐Xian Zhu, Si‐Yi Zhang, Ping‐Jiang Ge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wjo2.181
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author Jing‐Lin Su
Jing Kang
Qin‐Yi Ren
Zhi‐Xian Zhu
Si‐Yi Zhang
Ping‐Jiang Ge
author_facet Jing‐Lin Su
Jing Kang
Qin‐Yi Ren
Zhi‐Xian Zhu
Si‐Yi Zhang
Ping‐Jiang Ge
author_sort Jing‐Lin Su
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Medical masks have been shown to significantly influence speech communication in healthy people. The effect of mask‐wearing on phonatory capability and daily communication exchanges in patients with voice disorders remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of the medical mask on acoustic parameters in patients with a voice disorder, we measured the voice frequency, quality, and intensity. Methods Thirty‐three healthy and 44 voice disorder patients were involved in this study, including 27 patients with vocal‐fold lesions and 17 with primary functional dysphonia. Perceptual evaluation and acoustic parameters, including F0 (fundamental frequency), jitter, shimmer, and maximum vocal intensity, were analyzed without and with medical masks. Results With medical mask‐wearing, the maximum vocal intensity significantly decreased in all patients with voice disorders (p < 0.05), especially in patients with lesions of vocal folds (p < 0.05) and functional dysphonia (p < 0.05). The perceptual evaluation roughness scales also increased in patients with lesions of vocal folds (p < 0.05) and functional dysphonia (p < 0.05) with mask‐wearing. There were no significant effects of mask‐wearing on acoustic parameters for healthy participants. Conclusions The intensity was influenced when wearing medical masks in patients with disordered voices. The voice perceptual roughness scales also significantly increased compared to those without medical masks.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2095-8811
2589-1081
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Wiley
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series World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
spelling doaj-art-3275491abd3045e8bd7ae4f5ca402de72025-08-20T01:58:17ZengWileyWorld Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2095-88112589-10812025-03-01111101610.1002/wjo2.181Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphoniaJing‐Lin Su0Jing Kang1Qin‐Yi Ren2Zhi‐Xian Zhu3Si‐Yi Zhang4Ping‐Jiang Ge5Department of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) Southern Medical University Guangzhou ChinaAbstract Objective Medical masks have been shown to significantly influence speech communication in healthy people. The effect of mask‐wearing on phonatory capability and daily communication exchanges in patients with voice disorders remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of the medical mask on acoustic parameters in patients with a voice disorder, we measured the voice frequency, quality, and intensity. Methods Thirty‐three healthy and 44 voice disorder patients were involved in this study, including 27 patients with vocal‐fold lesions and 17 with primary functional dysphonia. Perceptual evaluation and acoustic parameters, including F0 (fundamental frequency), jitter, shimmer, and maximum vocal intensity, were analyzed without and with medical masks. Results With medical mask‐wearing, the maximum vocal intensity significantly decreased in all patients with voice disorders (p < 0.05), especially in patients with lesions of vocal folds (p < 0.05) and functional dysphonia (p < 0.05). The perceptual evaluation roughness scales also increased in patients with lesions of vocal folds (p < 0.05) and functional dysphonia (p < 0.05) with mask‐wearing. There were no significant effects of mask‐wearing on acoustic parameters for healthy participants. Conclusions The intensity was influenced when wearing medical masks in patients with disordered voices. The voice perceptual roughness scales also significantly increased compared to those without medical masks.https://doi.org/10.1002/wjo2.181acousticdysphoniamedical mask wearingperceptualperturbationvoice intensity
spellingShingle Jing‐Lin Su
Jing Kang
Qin‐Yi Ren
Zhi‐Xian Zhu
Si‐Yi Zhang
Ping‐Jiang Ge
Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
acoustic
dysphonia
medical mask wearing
perceptual
perturbation
voice intensity
title Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
title_full Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
title_fullStr Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
title_full_unstemmed Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
title_short Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
title_sort effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia
topic acoustic
dysphonia
medical mask wearing
perceptual
perturbation
voice intensity
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wjo2.181
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