Masks and face shields make it harder to hear in the OR, study finds
NCT ID NCT07505953
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how wearing surgical masks, N95 masks, and face shields affects speech perception and listening effort in operating rooms. Researchers tested 35 people with normal hearing and surveyed 184 operating room professionals. The goal was to understand communication barriers caused by PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help improve communication strategies for healthcare workers wearing PPE in noisy environments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed observational study with no treatment intervention, so results may not apply to all settings or languages.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for COMMUNICATION BARRIERS are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Biruni University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Role-Play videos may boost Doctor-Team communication training
- Eye-Tracking tech gives voice to silent ICU patients
- Hearing aids may cut listening fatigue in seniors
- Cochlear implant study aims to Fine-Tune hearing recovery for all ages
- Hospital efficiency hack: move breathing tube removal out of the OR?
- Lost in translation: study on video interpreting in trauma rooms pulled