All subjects, in the absence of background noise, were able to recognize most of what the person said, and it does not matter whether he was wearing a mask or not. When background noise was added, the difference was noticeable: when phrases were spoken in a surgical mask, the participants understood more than 50 percent of what was said, and when a woman put on a cloth mask or a mask with a transparent insert, people recognized only about 30 percent.
The study authors also emphasized that transparent inserts reduce hearing more than other options. In addition, they often fog up, due to which the mouth of the speaker is no longer visible to others.
