Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask
Abstract Facemasks are essential for healthcare workers but characteristics of the voice whilst wearing this personal protective equipment are not well understood. In the present study, we compared acoustic voice measures in recordings of sixteen adults producing standardised vocal tasks with and wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85130-8 |
| _version_ | 1818722378326212608 |
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| author | Duy Duong Nguyen Patricia McCabe Donna Thomas Alison Purcell Maree Doble Daniel Novakovic Antonia Chacon Catherine Madill |
| author_facet | Duy Duong Nguyen Patricia McCabe Donna Thomas Alison Purcell Maree Doble Daniel Novakovic Antonia Chacon Catherine Madill |
| author_sort | Duy Duong Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Facemasks are essential for healthcare workers but characteristics of the voice whilst wearing this personal protective equipment are not well understood. In the present study, we compared acoustic voice measures in recordings of sixteen adults producing standardised vocal tasks with and without wearing either a surgical mask or a KN95 mask. Data were analysed for mean spectral levels at 0–1 kHz and 1–8 kHz regions, an energy ratio between 0–1 and 1–8 kHz (LH1000), harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), and vocal intensity. In connected speech there was significant attenuation of mean spectral level at 1–8 kHz region and there was no significant change in this measure at 0–1 kHz. Mean spectral levels of vowel did not change significantly in mask-wearing conditions. LH1000 for connected speech significantly increased whilst wearing either a surgical mask or KN95 mask but no significant change in this measure was found for vowel. HNR was higher in the mask-wearing conditions than the no-mask condition. CPPS and vocal intensity did not change in mask-wearing conditions. These findings implied an attenuation effects of wearing these types of masks on the voice spectra with surgical mask showing less impact than the KN95. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:53:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f19c89bbd9684943ae77d2fc71928c3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f19c89bbd9684943ae77d2fc71928c3e2022-12-21T21:32:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-03-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-85130-8Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemaskDuy Duong Nguyen0Patricia McCabe1Donna Thomas2Alison Purcell3Maree Doble4Daniel Novakovic5Antonia Chacon6Catherine Madill7Voice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyVoice Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, D18, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, The University of SydneyAbstract Facemasks are essential for healthcare workers but characteristics of the voice whilst wearing this personal protective equipment are not well understood. In the present study, we compared acoustic voice measures in recordings of sixteen adults producing standardised vocal tasks with and without wearing either a surgical mask or a KN95 mask. Data were analysed for mean spectral levels at 0–1 kHz and 1–8 kHz regions, an energy ratio between 0–1 and 1–8 kHz (LH1000), harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), and vocal intensity. In connected speech there was significant attenuation of mean spectral level at 1–8 kHz region and there was no significant change in this measure at 0–1 kHz. Mean spectral levels of vowel did not change significantly in mask-wearing conditions. LH1000 for connected speech significantly increased whilst wearing either a surgical mask or KN95 mask but no significant change in this measure was found for vowel. HNR was higher in the mask-wearing conditions than the no-mask condition. CPPS and vocal intensity did not change in mask-wearing conditions. These findings implied an attenuation effects of wearing these types of masks on the voice spectra with surgical mask showing less impact than the KN95.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85130-8 |
| spellingShingle | Duy Duong Nguyen Patricia McCabe Donna Thomas Alison Purcell Maree Doble Daniel Novakovic Antonia Chacon Catherine Madill Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask Scientific Reports |
| title | Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| title_full | Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| title_fullStr | Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| title_short | Acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| title_sort | acoustic voice characteristics with and without wearing a facemask |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85130-8 |
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