An Acoustic-Phonetic Approach to Effects of Face Masks on Speech Intelligibility
Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 65, Number 12
Pages 4679-4689
Abstract
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the effects of wearing a face mask on speech acoustics and intelligibility, using an acoustic-phonetic analysis of speech. In addition, the effects of speakers' behavioral modification while wearing a mask were examined.
Method:
Fourteen female adults were asked to read a set of words and sentences under three conditions: (a) conversational, mask-off; (b) conversational, mask-on; and (c) clear, mask-on. Seventy listeners rated speech intelligibility using two methods: orthographic transcription and visual analog scale (VAS). Acoustic measures for vowels included duration, first (F1) and second (F2) formant frequency, and intensity ratio of F1/F2. For consonants, spectral moment coefficients and consonant–vowel (CV) boundary (intensity ratio between consonant and vowel) were measured.
Results:
Face masks had a negative impact on speech intelligibility as measured by both intelligibility ratings. However, speech intelligibility was recovered in the clear speech condition for VAS but not for transcription scores. Analysis of orthographic transcription showed that listeners tended to frequently confuse consonants (particularly fricatives, affricates, and stops), rather than vowels in the word-initial position. Acoustic data indicated a significant effect of condition on CV intensity ratio only.
Conclusions:
Our data demonstrate a negative effect of face masks on speech intelligibility, mainly affecting consonants. However, intelligibility can be enhanced by speaking clearly, likely driven by prosodic alterations.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 65 • Number 12 • December 2022
Pages: 4679-4689
PubMed: 36351244
Copyright
Copyright © 2022 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
History
- Received: May 2, 2022
- Revised: Jul 24, 2022
- Accepted: Aug 19, 2022
- Published online: Nov 9, 2022
- Published in issue: Dec 12, 2022
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