Analysis and Evaluation of a Voice-Training Program in Future Professional Voice Users

Abstract

The goal of this study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of a voice-training program. Twenty-three professional voice users received voice training for 2 years and vocal hygiene education for 1 year. The voice-training program consisted of lectures, technical workshops, and vocal coaching. The European Laryngological Society (ELS) protocol, including the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), was applied before and after, respectively, 9 and 18 months of voice training. A questionnaire on daily habits was presented at study onset and after 18 months. The DSI improvement is more significant after 9 months (P=0.005) than it is after 18 months (P=0.2). On the other hand, the perceptual evaluation remained unchanged after 9 months, whereas it improved significantly after 18 months. The results of the daily habit questionnaire are disturbing: the prevalence of smoking, vocal abuse, stress, and late meals were not influenced by the lectures and remained high. This study emphasizes the need for a well-organized voice-training program that is most effective after 9 months. Regarding the low effectiveness of the vocal hygiene program, the concept needs revision.