Mask Use and the Effect on the Voice
Face coverings have become a new normal as we attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Homemade or store-bought cloth masks, disposable surgical masks, bandanas, shields, N95s- you name it, and we are wearing it. We should be wearing a face mask, as they are known to prevent the spread of coronavirus effectively.
However, speaking through your mask can interfere with communication. It can require you to exert your voice by 25-50% or more depending on the masks' thickness, causing strain to the voice.
When talking with a mask or a shield on, your listener might perceive your voice as muffled, low in volume, or hard to understand. It can be especially challenging for individuals with hearing loss to hear the mask-wearers voice. The human face is extremely expressive, conveying a wide range of emotions. Facial expressions, an important aspect of nonverbal communication, are lost by wearing a mask.
By following these simple tips, you can improve your communication skills and reduce the strain on your voice while using a face mask.
How to Improve Communication to be Understood When Wearing a Mask
Face the person you are talking to with good eye contact and sit up straight with relaxed shoulders.
Use gestures and visuals (i.e., writing on a whiteboard) to accompany your speech.
Make sure your listener is paying attention.
Minimize background noise in your environment.
Speak slowly and clearly.
If you speak to a large group of people, clap your hands to get your audience’s attention and consider using a microphone with a voice amplifier to enhance loudness.
Choose a mask that allows your jaw, lips, and tongue to move freely when you speak.
If you elevate the volume of your voice, use belly breathing to drive your voice. A speech therapist can teach you how to do this.
How to Take Care of Your Voice While Wearing a Mask
Avoid shouting or screaming at the person who you are talking to.
Schedule rest time for your voice.
Focus on hydration by drinking a lot of water and minimize caffeine intake.
Limit irritants, such as cigarette smoke.
Take frequent pauses and breaths when speaking.
Resonate from the mouth and nose rather than the low throat. A speech therapist can teach you how to do this.
Here are more tips on good vocal hygiene.
We hope that these tips help you communicate better with a mask and avoid straining your voice. You may benefit from working with one of our voice therapists if you are experiencing hoarseness.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
