The use of face masks by hearing aid users during the COVID-19 pandemic: what are their effects on communication?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i16.38044Keywords:
Speech Intelligibility; Communication Aids for Disabled; Facial Masks; COVID-19; Coronavirus.Abstract
Objective: Evaluate the effect of the use of face masks on communication of individual hearing aids users, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Descriptive primary quantitative study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of a public university under protocol number 4,664,337 and carried out at a Specialized Rehabilitation Center with 30 hearing aid users. Among the procedures performed, stands out the application of a questionnaire developed by the researchers that evaluated the possible impairments in communication resulting from the use of face masks. Results: The use of a face mask is harmful to speech understanding, especially when it is made of fabric. 86.7% (26) of the research participants stated that the face masks used by the interlocutor influence the understanding of speech, thus causing damage to communication. 60% (18) of the total number of participants showed that, with the use of the face mask, the vocal intensity was reduced. Conclusion: The use of face masks impairs speech understanding for users of hearing aids, although these damages can also be extended to the population that does not use hearing aids effectively.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Lays Lorene Matos Vieira; Luana Beatriz Leandro Rodrigues; Jovelyne Janay Cavalcante da Silva; Kelly Cristina Lira de Andrade
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