Objective

2

To explore the specific impact of wearing a mask on the engagement of listening effort in speech perception among preschool hearing-impaired children.

Methods

2

Use 3 (mask types: no mask

surgical mask

transparent mask) × 2 (audiovisual level: pure listening

audiovisual) two factors repeated measurement experimental design. This study measured the working memory score of 29 preschool hearing-impaired children using a serial recall task to understand their listening effort fitness engagement.

Results

2

Under pure auditory conditions

the average score of preschool hearing-impaired children without masks was 33.91%

which was not significantly different from the surgical mask test score of 30.32% (

P

=0.315)

but significantly higher than the average score of 25.72% for transparent masks (

P

<

0.001)

and the surgical mask score was significantly higher than the transparent mask score (

P

=0.045). At the audio-visual level

the average score of preschool hearing-impaired children without wearing masks was 41.15%

significantly higher than the 28.02% score of surgical masks (

P

<

0.001) and the 32.90% score of transparent masks (

P

<

0.001)

and the score of transparent masks was significantly higher than that of surgical masks (

P

=0.030).

Conclusion

2

Wearing a mask can lead to an increase in the level of listening effort invested in speech perception by preschool hearing-impaired children

but under the conditions of surgical masks for pure listening and transparent masks for audiovisual use

children are relatively less engaged in listening effort.