Voice examination with and without CoViDprotektive masks: reproducibility of the Acoustic Voice Qualit Index (AVQI)

ABSTRACT

Purpose In the CoViD-19 pandemy there is a need for voice examination techniques that minimize the risk of infection for both patient and examiner. To investigate whether the measurement of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) is valid and comparable to previous unmasked measurements if the speaker wears a surgical mask or a FFP-2 mask in order to reduce the risk of transmitting air-borne viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Methods A convenience sample of 31 supposedly healthy participants was subjected to AVQI voice examination four times Twice wearing no mask, once with a surgical mask and once with a FFP-2 mask as used regularly in our hospital. The order of the four mask conditions was randomized. The spread in the results between the two recordings without mask was then compared to the spread in the recordings with each mask and the recording without masks. Results The mean absolute difference in AVQI was 0.45 between the measurements without masks, 0.48 between no mask and surgical mask and 0.51 be-tween no mask and FFP-2 mask . The results were neither clinically nor statistically significant (in a signed rank test). Conclusion Based on a convenience sample of healthy or only mildly impaired voices wearing CoViD-19 protective masks does not substantially impair the results of AVQI measurements.