Effects on communication due to face mask use: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVES

to integrate evidence from studies on auditory perceptual and speech production effects in communication situations with face mask use.

METHODS

an integrative literature review, in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Embase databases. The guiding question was: what effects on communication (perceptual-auditory and speech production) occur with face mask use?

RESULTS

searches in electronic databases resulted in 1,478 studies and filtering resulted in 29 final studies.

CONCLUSIONS

mask use has effects on communication, both in perception and speech production, factors that are also related to quality of life, stress and socio-emotional factors. These data can impact on indicators and alerts in favor of adopting strategies to manage mask use, involving speech production and perception when wearing a mask in health services.