Can I Communicate Effectively with a Protective Mask in Place?

 Can I communicate effectively with a protective mask?

10 Words: Yes! Communicative efficiency can be maintained with clear/crisp speech.

100 Words:

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world. No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service. Masks are recommended for our protection, but communicating efficiently and effectively with a mask is challenging. Here are some tips to communicate effectively:

• Eliminate unnecessary background noise (loud music, TV, etc).

• Get BIGGER. Make big movements with your mouth (move your teeth, tongue and jaw more) when speaking.

• Ensure appropriate mask-fit. Make sure you can move your mouth enough to be clear when you speak.

• Slow down. Allow for appropriate pauses between phrases.

• Supplement in-person communication with text (signs, pre-meeting email, close-captioned scribe, etc.)

1000 Words:

As we begin discussions of re-opening the nation, we are all faced with the reality of walking back into a world that is vastly different than just a few months ago. Perhaps most noticeably, many public places have initiated mask policies. In brief, no shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service.  One township in Boston even imposed a $1000 fine for being in a public space without a protective mask in place.  

The CDC continues to recommend appropriate social distancing as a primary line of self-defense against the spread of COVID-19. As we learn more about the virus, we learn more about how it spreads from person to person. In a recent study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH), it was demonstrated that coughing, sneezing, and speaking can disperse, or aerosolize, virus-containing particles in the air. These particles can stay in the air, and on common surfaces, potentially transmitting the virus. It is also now thought that particles can spread further distances than we had previously understood. The IJERPH now recommends wearing a protective face mask in all public places to minimize risk of viral transmission and community exposure. In a recent study completed in Hong Kong, it was determined that wearing a mask can decrease infection by 75%. In short, by wearing a cloth mask you significantly reduce your own risk of exposure to and spread of virus containing particles. Even people without obvious viral symptoms can still be disease carriers and transmitters. Johns Hopkins University reports that viral shedding, or release of virus-containing particles, can occur in up to 50% of people who never become symptomatic and viral shedding can begin 2 days before the first symptoms present. 

Wearing a mask can be an effective protective measure in preventing community spread of COVID-19, however, we can’t ignore its effects on day to day life. Masks are annoying, uncomfortable, and inconvenient, especially when you need to vocally communicate while wearing one. In your first couple of meetings, phone conferences, etc you may feel that you have to speak louder, repeat yourself more often, or you might avoid talking altogether with your mask in place. When you do choose to speak, you may be met by those oh-so-frustrating questions:

“What did you say?” 

“What?”

“Can you speak up?”

“Can you please repeat that?”

Our communicative efficiency is being challenged. 

Communicative efficiency is a term used to describe the process of delivering a message “quickly in a way that allows the receiver to hear it, interpret and make use of it as you intended” with the least amount of speaker effort. Wearing a mask presents several potential boundaries for cultivating and maintaining communicative efficiency. 

1. No more lipreading

1. Reading lips is a natural method of enhancing what you hear in a noisy/competitive environment. Masks cover the mouth when worn appropriately, and lip-reading is impossible. 

2. Masks change how you sound

1. While masks do not significantly change the loudness of your voice - they can change the quality of your sound output. This “muffled” quality is often due to smaller mouth movements during speaking when wearing a mask. 

3. Increased risk for failure

1. If you tried communicating with a mask on, and you were unsuccessful or misheard, you are less likely to try again. 

How can I be an effective communicator, even with a protective mask as a barrier?

1. Eliminate unnecessary background noise (loud music, TV, etc).

2. Don’t get louder, get BIGGER. Make big movements with your mouth when speaking

1. By being intentional about slightly exaggerated articulation or moving your mouth MORE in every word, you make a more clear, crisp sound.

2. Fun Fact: “Clear Speech”, rather than raising your volume, is an effective tool to use when communicating with individuals who may have hearing loss, and can also improve the speaker’s sound quality.

3. Try this: Count from 1-10 out loud focusing on how each sound feels in your mouth. Focus on feeling the speech sounds, and make each of these sounds crisp and clear. 

3. Ensure appropriate mask-fit.

1. You should be able to speak freely without fear of the mask becoming displaced from your nose or mouth. 

2. Yawn test: You should be able to yawn comfortably without the mask coming off your nose or mouth.

4. Slow down. Allow for appropriate pauses between phrases. Pauses also give you a moment to take a breath, which improves vocal output.

5. Supplement in-person communication with text (signs, pre-meeting email, close-captioned scribe, etc.).

If you try the above, but continue to feel hindered by your ability to communicate, consider alternative accommodations like telecommuting, personal amplification, and close captioned meetings. 

Sources: 

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/04/24/coronavirus-winthrop-face-mask/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/differences-between-communication-efficiency-effectiveness-76764.html

https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540747/all/Coronavirus_COVID_19__SARS_CoV_2_

https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/jshr.2801.96

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26264642

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/19/coronavirus-wearing-a-mask-can-reduce-transmission-by-75percent-new-study-claims.html

Today's answer provided by: Nathaniel Sundholm, CCC-SLP and colleagues