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.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Biruni University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)