The Impact of Masking Habits on Voice in a Sub-population of Healthcare Workers

A study by Abdul-Latif Hamdan, Christopher Jabbour, Anthony Ghanem, & Paola Ghanem in the Journal of Voice (volume 38, No. 4 : July 2024)

In the study, the team set out to evaluate the impact of face masks on the voice in the subpopulation of healthcare workers. Specifically, they targeted residents, medical students, and nurses. The team used a questionnaire that included the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 questionnaire and the visual analogue scale for vocal effort and vocal fatigue.

The study found that this subpopulation did have increased vocal fatigue compared to healthcare workers in general and the general population. The team identified that the increase may be caused by the type of mask, typically N95 respirators in this setting, which have been suggested to reduce sound transmission by 12-18 dB. The team does also note that there is a high percentage of smokers in the study participants, which may impact the data.

So What?
The findings in this study are unlikely to be a surprise to the general population after the mask mandates of the Covid-19 pandemic. It does, however, serve as a reminder that student occupation may play a significant role in the teaching of singing and the benefits that voice lessons can provide a student. While masking is a common (and frequently required) part of medical work, there are many individuals who mask frequently in their day to day.

1. Ask students about their occupation
2. Ask if they frequently wear masks, if so, what type
3. Ask about vocal fatigue and be alert for it during lessons

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Hamdan, A. L., Jabbour, C., Ghanem, A., & Ghanem, P. (2024). The Impact of Masking Habits on Voice in a Sub-population of Healthcare Workers. Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation, 38(4), 918–921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.11.002

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