Semantic Cues Modulate Children's and Adults' Processing of Audio-Visual Face Mask Speech.

ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions have been raised about the impact of face masks on communication in classroom settings. However, it is unclear to what extent visual obstruction of the speaker's mouth or changes to the acoustic signal lead to speech processing difficulties, and whether these effects can be mitigated by semantic predictability, i.e., the availability of contextual information. The present study investigated the acoustic and visual effects of face masks on speech intelligibility and processing speed under varying semantic predictability. Twenty-six children (aged 8-12) and twenty-six adults performed an internet-based cued shadowing task, in which they had to repeat aloud the last word of sentences presented in audio-visual format. The results showed that children and

SUBMITTER: Schwarz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9343587 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature