Investigation of the effect of audiologists' use of masks on speech discrimination scores

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate whether communication between the audiologist and the patient during speech audiometry is disrupted by the use of face masks. Methods: This was a single-center, observational, prospective study. The audiologist obtained the speech discrimination test (SDT) while participants wore a single layer of surgical mask, an N95 mask, and also while not wearing a mask. Results: A total of 112 patients (224 ears) participated in the study. The SDT score measured by the audiologist while using a surgical mask was lower than the SDT score without any protective equipment (72.64±25.60 versus 73.32±25.59, P<0.001). The SDT score assessed with the N95 was 70.48±26.59; a significant reduction was observed in the measurement taken without a protective mask compared with the surgical mask (P<0.001). In the subgroup analyses, similar outcomes were noted in the groups without hearing loss as well as in those with severe hearing loss. Conclusion: The audiologist's use of protective equipment may impact the results of SDTs. For this reason, a retrospective re-evaluation of hearing tests performed during the recent pandemic may come to the fore.