The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought infection control to the forefront of clinical practices, including those involving speech therapy equipment like the Nasometer. The Nasometer is a widely used tool for assessing nasality in speech disorders. However, the need to maintain hygiene without compromising the accuracy of nasalance scores presents a challenge for practitioners.
The Impact of Covering Nasometer Microphones
A recent study published in The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal explored whether covering Nasometer microphones with household plastic wrap affects nasalance scores. The research found that while such coverings might seem like a practical solution for infection control, they significantly increase variability in nasalance scores.
The study involved playing pre-recorded sound files through loudspeakers and measuring nasalance scores under different conditions: baseline (uncovered microphones) and three different wrap cover conditions. Results showed that the mean differences between wrap cover and baseline conditions were 8.2 to 15.3 times larger than between two baseline conditions. This significant increase in variability suggests that using plastic wrap as a barrier can distort nasalance measurements.
Best Practices for Infection Control
Given these findings, it's crucial for clinicians to adopt alternative methods for infection control that do not compromise the accuracy of nasalance scores:
- Avoid Using Household Wrap: As demonstrated by the study, covering microphones with household wrap increases score variability and should be avoided.
- Regular Cleaning: Use alcohol-based disinfectants to clean the Nasometer's metal components and silicone tubing. However, note that microphones can only be wiped superficially due to their electric components.
- Wear Gloves: To minimize touch transfer of pathogens, clinicians should handle equipment with gloves.
- Consider Alternative Barriers: While household wraps are unsuitable, other materials such as acoustic foam covers may provide some level of protection without affecting sound quality as much.
Encouraging Further Research
This study highlights the need for further research into effective infection control measures that do not impact clinical outcomes. Exploring materials specifically designed for acoustic transparency while providing adequate protection could offer solutions that balance safety and accuracy.
Conclusion
The accuracy of nasalance scores is critical in diagnosing and managing speech disorders. Clinicians must ensure that their infection control practices do not interfere with these measurements. By following best practices and staying informed about new research developments, practitioners can continue to provide safe and effective care.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Covering Nasometer Microphones with Plastic Wrap for Infection Control Increases Retest Variability of Nasalance Scores.
