This study presents a systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines to synthesize evidence on the effects of face coverings on speech. A total of 455 records were identified, of which 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that face coverings primarily attenuate high-frequency components above 2–4 kHz, which are critical for speech intelligibility, while low-frequency energy remains relatively preserved. The degree of acoustic alteration varies across mask types, with respirators and multi-layer coverings showing greater attenuation. Perceptually, these changes lead to reduced speech intelligibility and increased listening effort, particularly in noisy environments and in the absence of visual cues. More complex coverings, such as face shields and helmets, further exacerbate these effects. Overall, the reviewed studies demonstrate consistent trends but are limited by methodological variability and reduced ecological validity. This review highlights the need for standardized approaches and emphasizes the importance of considering masked speech effects in forensic and applied speech analysis.
Marathe et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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