The effect of wearing face masks on voice and intelligibility of speech during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The study aims at evaluating the effect of wearing face masks on voice and intelligibility speech in Egyptian working individuals during COVID-19 pandemic to identify if there are any adverse effects environment. Materials methods A cross-section analytical was conducted 153 participants. Personal data about nature their workplaces were collected. evaluation included a subjective assessment using specifically designed questionnaire addressing self-perception fatigue, unintelligibility, received auditory feedback breathing difficulty, objective by Computerized Speech Lab, while unintelligibility Arabic Intelligibility Test. Results revealed poor workplace acoustics increased feedback, difficulty masks. Medical professionals showed feedback. No significant difference found absolute jitter with without mask. Increasing shimmer mean fundamental frequency decreasing noise harmonic ratio maximum phonation time found. decreased especially N95 Conclusion Wearing negatively affects communication workplace, room acoustics. It both subjectively objectively. caused fatigue changes parameters.