Effect of Face Masks on Speech Intelligibility

Conference paper

Vazquez Amos, R., Green, J., Dance, S., Thomas, J., Gohil, H., Telford, J. and Mapp, P. (2022). Effect of Face Masks on Speech Intelligibility. Inter-Noise 2022. Glasgow 21 - 24 Aug 2022 Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE). https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2022_0396
AuthorsVazquez Amos, R., Green, J., Dance, S., Thomas, J., Gohil, H., Telford, J. and Mapp, P.
TypeConference paper
AbstractWith the advent of COVID, the wearing of face covering has been obligatory in both medical and everyday life. This paper describes three experiments undertaken to establish the effect of face coverings on speech sound power, speech directivity and speech intelligibility. The experiments used two different approaches acoustic measurements and word scores. The face coverings assessed were a 'standard blue' surgical mask, a typical fabric mask, and a plastic transparent visor. The results showed that non-native English speakers had by far the most difficulty in comprehending the English language speech when face coverings were worn in speech intelligibility tests, as measured using phonetically balanced word lists. All the masks were found to noticeably affect speech intelligibility, with the surgical mask having the least detrimental effect. The results are also compared to objective measurements of their physical acoustics characteristics to establish their performance.
Year2022
JournalINTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE)
Journal citation265 (5), pp. 2842-2850
ISSN0736-2935
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2022_0396
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Publication dates
Online21 Aug 2022
Print21 Aug 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Jun 2022
Deposited24 Feb 2023
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/93537

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
In22 8 page Facemasks v5.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 65
    total views
  • 36
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Acoustics of a Choral Rehearsal Room
Dance, S. Acoustics of a Choral Rehearsal Room. IOA Acoustics. Cardiff, UK 23 - 24 Apr 2018
The Quiet Project: A national environmental noise survey undertaken during lockdown
Dance, S., Vazquez Amos R. and McInytre L. (2024). The Quiet Project: A national environmental noise survey undertaken during lockdown. Institute of Acoustics 50th Anniversary. Manchester Metropolitan University, Business School 12 - 13 Sep 2024 Institute of Acoustics.
Face the Music: A 20 year plan
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2024). Face the Music: A 20 year plan. Institute of Acoustics 50th Anniversary. Manchester Metropolitan University, Business School 12 - 13 Sep 2024
AI in Acoustics - A London branch event
Dance, S. (2024). AI in Acoustics - A London branch event. Institute of Acoustics Bulletin. 50 (4).
Face the (unamplified) music: Key findings for musicians
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2024). Face the (unamplified) music: Key findings for musicians. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 155 (5). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0026024
The Art of Being an Acoustician Conference
Dance, S. (2024). The Art of Being an Acoustician Conference. Acoustics Bulletin. 50 (3).
Introducing the new IOA Research Member grade
Dance, S. (2024). Introducing the new IOA Research Member grade. Acoustics Bulletin. 50 (2).
The Effect of Sound Source Direction on Speech Intelligibility in Rooms
Dance, S., Toone, S., Sheng Tham, J. and Mapp, P. (2023). The Effect of Sound Source Direction on Speech Intelligibility in Rooms. Institute of Acoustics, Acoustics 2023. Winchester, UK 15 - 17 Oct 2023
The Art of Being an Acoustician
Dance, S. (2023). The Art of Being an Acoustician. Institute of Acoustics Bulletin. 49 (4), pp. 30-31.
Acoustics of a Sitzprobe rehearsal
Dance, S. (2023). Acoustics of a Sitzprobe rehearsal. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings. 268 (8), pp. 68-73. https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2023_0031
Hearing assessment of students of a music conservatoire using otoacoustic emissions
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2023). Hearing assessment of students of a music conservatoire using otoacoustic emissions . 14th International Conference on the Biological Effect of Noise. Belgrade, Serbia 18 - 22 Jun 2023 ICBEN.
Results from The Quiet Project - UK Acoustic Community's response to Covid-19
Kowalik, H., Dance, S. and McInyre, L. (2023). Results from The Quiet Project - UK Acoustic Community's response to Covid-19. Inter-Noise 2022. Glasgow 21 - 24 Aug 2022 Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE). https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2022_0392
Acoustics Of Classrooms
Dance, S. and Ballestero, E. (2022). Acoustics Of Classrooms. Frontiers for Young Minds. 10, p. 804634. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2022.804634
Teaching acoustic during a pandemic: Lab in a Box for experiments at home
Dance, S. (2022). Teaching acoustic during a pandemic: Lab in a Box for experiments at home. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 151 (4). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0010042
Hybrid flexible (HyFlex) seminar delivery – A technical overview of the implementation
Sanchez-Pizani, R., Detyna, M., Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2022). Hybrid flexible (HyFlex) seminar delivery – A technical overview of the implementation. Building and Environment. 216, p. 109001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109001
Scattering Evaluation of Equivalent Surface Impedances of Acoustic Metamaterials in Large FDTD Volumes Using RLC Circuit Modelling
Ballestero, E., Hamilton, B., Jiménez, N., Romero-García, V., Groby, J., Aygun, H. and Dance, S. (2021). Scattering Evaluation of Equivalent Surface Impedances of Acoustic Metamaterials in Large FDTD Volumes Using RLC Circuit Modelling. Applied Sciences. 11 (17), p. e8084. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178084
Attack Of The Drones’ Exploration Of The Sound Power Levels Emitted And The Impact Drone’s Could Have Upon Rural Areas
Dance, S. and Nixon, N. (2021). Attack Of The Drones’ Exploration Of The Sound Power Levels Emitted And The Impact Drone’s Could Have Upon Rural Areas. Inter-Noise 2021. On-line 01 - 05 Aug 2021
Teaching Acoustics under COVID: Lab in a Box for Experiments at Home
Dance, S. (2021). Teaching Acoustics under COVID: Lab in a Box for Experiments at Home. Inter-Noise 2021. On-line 01 - 05 Aug 2021
Research project to reduce the sound level in the pit
Dance, S. (2021). Research project to reduce the sound level in the pit. London South Bank University.
The Quiet Project – UK Acoustic Community’s response to COVID19 during the easing of lockdown
Dance, S. and McIntyre, L. (2021). The Quiet Project – UK Acoustic Community’s response to COVID19 during the easing of lockdown. Noise Mapping. 8 (1), pp. 32-40. https://doi.org/10.1515/noise-2021-0003
Flexible control of acoustic conditions in a music rehearsal space using airbeds
Shearer, D, Dance, S, Gomez-Agustina, L and Randell, J (2021). Flexible control of acoustic conditions in a music rehearsal space using airbeds. Applied Acoustics. 173, pp. 107708-107708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107708
The Sound of the Drone Uprising – Aeroacoustics of Drone Blades
Nixon, J. and Dance, S. (2020). The Sound of the Drone Uprising – Aeroacoustics of Drone Blades. Quiet Drones. Paris 17 - 21 Oct 2020
Sound exposure of staff at a conservatorie
Dance, S., Shearer, D. and Zepidou, G. (2020). Sound exposure of staff at a conservatorie. "Acoustics 2020" Institute of Acoustics Virtual Annual Conference. On-line 05 - 09 Oct 2020 Institute of Acoustics.
London heliport: Noise emissions and the effect on local residents.
Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2020). London heliport: Noise emissions and the effect on local residents. Noise & health. 23 (108), pp. 21-34. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_25_20
Measurement of Absorption Coefficients to ISO354 using Tall Sources and Microphones
Dance, S. (2020). Measurement of Absorption Coefficients to ISO354 using Tall Sources and Microphones. Inter-Noise 2020. e congress 23 - 26 Aug 2020 The Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering.
Sound exposure of choristers
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2020). Sound exposure of choristers. Noise and Health. 21 (98). https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_40_19
Sound absorption characteristics of air laid non-woven feather mats
Dance, S, Dieckmann, E, Sheldrick, L and Cheeseman, C (2019). Sound absorption characteristics of air laid non-woven feather mats. Inter-Noise. Madrid 16 - 19 Jun 2019
Henry Wood Hall: The creation of a flexible acoustic using airbeds.
Shearer, DJ, Gomez-Agustina, L, Ballestero, E and Dance, S (2019). Henry Wood Hall: The creation of a flexible acoustic using airbeds. Inter.Noise 2019 - the 48th International Congress and Exhibition on Noise Control Engineering. Madrid, Spain 17 - 21 Jun 2019
Quality evaluation of microphones used for lecture captures in universities
Sanchez-Pizani, R., Dance, S., Gomez-Agustina, L. and Mapp, P. (2019). Quality evaluation of microphones used for lecture captures in universities. Institute of Acoustics: Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK 19 - 21 Nov 2019
Face the Music: A 12 year study of the sound of performance and hearing of classical music
Dance, S., Shearer, D. and Zepidou, G. (2019). Face the Music: A 12 year study of the sound of performance and hearing of classical music. International Congress on Acoustics. Aachen, Germany 09 - 13 Sep 2019
Experimental validation of deep-subwavelength by diffusion by acoustic metadiffusers
Dance, S., Ballestero, E., Aygun, H., Jimenez, N., Groby, J-P. and Romero-Garcia, V. (2019). Experimental validation of deep-subwavelength by diffusion by acoustic metadiffusers. Applied Physics Letters. 115 (8). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5114877
Post occupancy perception of acoustics, ventilation and overheating within residential dwellings
Dance, S and Coleman, K (2019). Post occupancy perception of acoustics, ventilation and overheating within residential dwellings. Acoustics 2019. Milton Keynes 13 - 14 May 2019
A new kind of low frequency absorber design suitable for music recital halls
Dance, S, Shearer, D and Menin, P (2019). A new kind of low frequency absorber design suitable for music recital halls. Acoustics 2019. Milton Keynes 13 - 14 May 2019
Henry Wood Hall: The Creation of a Flexible Acoustic Using Airbeds
Shearer, D J, Gomez-Agustina, L, Ballestero, E and Dance, S (2019). Henry Wood Hall: The Creation of a Flexible Acoustic Using Airbeds. Internoise 2019. Madrid, Spain 16 - 19 Jun 2019
Urban Wind Turbines: A feasibility study
Dance, S and Dymock, B (2018). Urban Wind Turbines: A feasibility study. CIBSE Technical Symposium 2018 Stretching the envelope. London 12 - 13 Apr 2018
Singing and loudness: a short study with the royal opera house
Dance, S, Bernays, J and Liu, S (2018). Singing and loudness: a short study with the royal opera house. Institute of Acoustics - Acoustics 2018. Cardiff 23 - 24 Apr 2018
Specialist Interest Group in Rooms and Comms - Challenges in Acoustics
Dance, S (2018). Specialist Interest Group in Rooms and Comms - Challenges in Acoustics. Institute of Acoustics, Acoustics 18. City Hall, Cathays Park, Cardiff 23 - 23 Apr 2018
Towards a Novel Acoustic Absorber Using a Magnetically Induced Geometric Nonlinearity in an Elastic Membrane
Shearer, DJ, Dance, S, Gomez-Agustina, L and Randell, J (2018). Towards a Novel Acoustic Absorber Using a Magnetically Induced Geometric Nonlinearity in an Elastic Membrane. Euronoise 2018, the 11th European Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Crete, Greece 27 - 31 May 2018 EAA-HELINA.
An investigation of the noise from London Heliport and the Effect on the Local Residents
Dance, S and Gomez-Agustina, L (2018). An investigation of the noise from London Heliport and the Effect on the Local Residents. The 11th European Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Crete 27 - 31 May 2018 EAA-HELINA.
A methodology to objectively assess the performance of sound field amplification systems demonstrated using fifty physical simulations of classrooms
Dance, S, Backus, B and Morales, L (2018). A methodology to objectively assess the performance of sound field amplification systems demonstrated using fifty physical simulations of classrooms. Noise and Health. 20 (94), pp. 77-82. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_87_16
Community response from noise emissions from London heliport operation
Gomez-Agustina, L and Dance, S (2018). Community response from noise emissions from London heliport operation. International Conference on Sound and Vibration. Hiroshima, Japan 08 - 12 Jul 2018
Noise and Vibration from Urban Wind Turbines
Dance, S and Dymock, B (2018). Noise and Vibration from Urban Wind Turbines. 47th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Chicago, USA 26 - 30 Aug 2018 London South Bank University.
Novel sound absorption materials from air laid non woven feather fibres
Dance, S, Dieckmann, E, Sheldrick, L and Cheeseman, C (2018). Novel sound absorption materials from air laid non woven feather fibres. Heliyon. 9 (4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00818
Acoustic conditions in orchestra pits: are metadiffusers a potential solution?
Dance, S, Ballestero, E, Shearer, D and Aygün, H (2018). Acoustic conditions in orchestra pits: are metadiffusers a potential solution? Auditorium Acoustics 2018. Hamburg, Germany 04 - 06 Oct 2018
London Battersea Heliport Noise Monitoring
Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2017). London Battersea Heliport Noise Monitoring. Wandsworth Council.
London Battersea Heliport Noise Subjective Survey
Gomez-Agustina, L. and Dance, S. (2017). London Battersea Heliport Noise Subjective Survey. Wandsworth Council.
Head-tracked auralisations for a dynamic audio experience in virtual reality sceneries
Ballestero, E, Robinson, P and Dance, S (2017). Head-tracked auralisations for a dynamic audio experience in virtual reality sceneries. 24th International Congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017
Impact that Acoustic Design has on Higher Education for Non-English Speaking Students
Dance, S and Sanchez-Pizani, R (2017). Impact that Acoustic Design has on Higher Education for Non-English Speaking Students. International Congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017
An Investigation into the Effect of Acoustics on Vocal Strain of Opera Singers
Dance, S and Okten, G (2017). An Investigation into the Effect of Acoustics on Vocal Strain of Opera Singers. Internationl congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017 London South Bank University.
Face the Music: A before and after study of the hearing acuity of Classical music students
Dance, S (2017). Face the Music: A before and after study of the hearing acuity of Classical music students. International Congress on Sound and Vibration 24. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017
A revised speech spectrum for STI calculations
Morales, L, Leembruggen, G, Dance, S and Shield, B (2017). A revised speech spectrum for STI calculations. Applied Acoustics. 132, pp. 33-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2017.11.008
A comparison of the hearing acuity of classical musicians
Dance, S (2016). A comparison of the hearing acuity of classical musicians. Acoustics Bulletin. 41 (2), pp. 43-46.
Measuring absorption below 100Hz with a particle velocity-pressure sensor
Shearer, DJ and Dance, S (2016). Measuring absorption below 100Hz with a particle velocity-pressure sensor. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings,. Hamburg, Germany 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 3678-3688
Facing the music: Helping classical musicians comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations
Dance, S (2016). Facing the music: Helping classical musicians comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Inter-Noise 2016. Hamburg 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 6876-6882
The suitability of additive manufacturing materials in a 1:10 scale reverberation chamber
Brown, S and Dance, S (2016). The suitability of additive manufacturing materials in a 1:10 scale reverberation chamber. INTER-NOISE. Hamburg, Germany 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 4149-4159
Noise reduction in commercial refrigerators - a practical approach
Marques, A. C., Gomez-Agustina, L., Dance, S., Hammond, E. and Wood I. (2013). Noise reduction in commercial refrigerators - a practical approach . 20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration. Bangkok, Thailand 07 - 11 Jul 2013