Powered air-purifying respirators used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly reduce speech perception

Background: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, interventions in the upper airways are considered high-risk procedures for otolaryngologists and their colleagues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate limitations in hearing and communication when using a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system to protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and to assess the benefit of a headset. Methods: Acoustic properties of the PAPR system were measured using a head and torso simulator. Audiological tests (tone audiometry, Freiburg speech test, Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA)) were performed in normal-hearing subjects (n = 10) to assess hearing with PAPR. The audiological test setup also included simulation of conditions in which the target speaker used either a PAPR, a filtering face piece (FFP) 3 respirator, or a surgical face mask. Results: Audiological measurements revealed that sound insulation by the PAPR headtop and noise, generated by the blower-assisted respiratory protection system, resulted in significantly deteriorated hearing thresholds (4.0 +/- 7.2 dB hearing level (HL) vs. 49.2 +/- 11.0 dB HL, p < 0.001) and speech recognition scores in quiet (100.0 +/- 0.0% vs. 2.5 +/- 4.2%, p < 0.001; OLSA: 20.8 +/- 1.8 dB vs. 61.0 +/- 3.3 dB SPL, p < 0.001) when compared to hearing without PAPR. Hearing with PAPR was significantly improved when the subjects were equipped with an in-ear headset (p < 0.001). Sound attenuation by FFP3 respirators and surgical face masks had no clinically relevant impact on speech perception. Conclusions: The PAPR system evaluated here can be considered for high-risk procedures in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, provided that hearing and communication of the surgical team are optimized by the additional use of a headset.

Automated summary

This study assessed limitations in hearing and communication when using a PAPR system and found that sound insulation by the PAPR headtop and noise from the blower-assisted system significantly deteriorated hearing thresholds and speech recognition scores. However, hearing with PAPR was significantly improved with the use of an in-ear headset. Sound attenuation by FFP3 respirators and surgical face masks did not have a clinically relevant impact on speech perception.