Effect of Using N95 and Surgical Masks on Otoacoustic Emission in Cochlear Outer Hair Cells.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nDistortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was measured to investigate the effect of mask use and type on oxygen saturation on cochlear function in health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nGroup 1 participants wore surgical masks; Group 2 participants wore N95 masks. Distortion product otoacoustic emission and oxygen saturation were measured in both groups before and after mask use.\n\n\nRESULTS\nComparison of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values before and after surgical mask use in DPOAE measurements of group 1 revealed statistically significant difference in the right and left ears. Comparison of the SNR values in DPOAE measurements of group 2 before and after 8 hours of N95 mask use revealed statistically significant differences in the right ear at 988, 2963, 4444, and 8000 Hz and in the left ear at 8000 Hz.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nWe found that prolonged mask use may affect the outer hair cells in the cochlea, causing deterioration in DPOAE values.