Impact of Vocal Fatigue on Acoustic and Aerodynamic Parameters in Elite Voice Professionals Diagnosed with Mild Laryngeal Pathology

Cricothyroid Joint Abnormalities in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Investigation of the Relationship Between Vocal Fatigue, Quality of Life, and Compliance With Vocal Hygiene in Professional Voice Users.

Relationship Between Vocal Fatigue Index and Acoustic Voice Scales in Patients With Coronavirus Infection

Vocal Fatigue and Its Relationship with Vocal Hygiene and Work-Related Factors in Professional and Nonprofessional Voice Users: A Multiple Linear Regression Model Study

What are the Symptoms that Characterize the Clinical Condition of Vocal Fatigue? A Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Prolonged use of voice or vocal load can be a risk factor for individuals and can end up in vocal fatigue and dysphonia. Vocal loading can alter tissue structure and affect the voice quality forever. An obvious factor to be considered is the vocal use by a professional voice user. Actors are a group of professionals who can be affected by the long-term use of voice. There is a higher prevalence of inflammatory lesion in acting students and they were found to have poor vocal hygiene habits; which shows that these future elite vocal performers are at risk for developing a voice disorder. Aim: To study the objective and subjective changes in voice characteristics post vocal loading task in trainee actors. Method: A total 37 trainee actors (14 females and 23 males) participated in the study. The age range of the participants were 20 – 39 years and the range of the training period was 6 – 12 months. The participants were instructed to read a passage for 30 – 45 minutes at a loudness level of 70 – 80 dB SPL. Individuals with perceptually normal voice in terms of pitch and intensity and with a score less than 1 in GRBASI (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain, Instability) rating scale were included in the study. Acoustic, and perceptual evaluation were measured immediately before and after vocal loading task. Acoustic analysis was done using MDVP, whereas The Auditory Perceptual Rating Scale and GRABASI rating scale were used for perceptual analysis. Self-rating of the voice after vocal loading task was measured after the vocal loading task using Vocal Fatigue Index.1 Results and conclusion: The results revealed a significant difference in perceptual parameters post vocal loading task. The f0, jitter and HNR (Harmonic to Noise Ratio) showed a significant increase in the values after the vocal loading task. However, shimmer and RAP (Relative Amplitude Perturbation) did not show significant difference in the values post vocal loading task. The self-rating of the voice after the vocal loading task revealed that 54% of the trainee actors did not perceive vocal fatigue. The study hence shows significant effects of vocal loading in perceptual and acoustic analysis whereas the self-rating shows less perception of vocal changes in training actors. The acoustic, perceptual and self-rating of the voice quality before and after vocal loading task can aid in effective training and management of the trainee actors. However, the actors themselves are not equipped to measure the voice changes acoustically or perceptually and would take much longer time to perceive changes in their voice quality. Therefore, it is important to give a vocal hygiene programme in the preventive stage, that is, in the training period.

Is Cepstral Peak Prominence a Measure of Vocal Fatigue in Temple Priests: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to analyze the vocal quality and resonance (nasality and nasalance values) during the menstrual cycle in professional voice users using oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Although professional voice users are more sensitive and aware of their vocal quality, no changes of voice and resonance characteristics were expected because OCPs create a stable hormonal balance throughout the menstrual cycle. The authors conducted a comparative study of 24 healthy, young professional voice users using OCPs. One assessment was performed between the 10th and 17th day of pill intake, when hormonal levels reached a steady state. The second assessment was performed during the first 3 days of menses, when no pills were taken and hormonal levels were minimized. Subjective (perceptual evaluation of voice and nasality) and objective (aerodynamic, voice range, acoustic, Dysphonia Severity Index [DSI], nasometer) assessment techniques were used. : The Mann-Whitney U test showed no significant difference between the perceptual evaluation of the voice and the nasality in the two assessments. The paired Student t test showed no significant difference regarding the maximum phonation time, the vocal performance, the acoustic parameters, and the DSI. These findings indicate that OCPs do not have an impact on the objective and subjective voice and resonance parameters in young professional voice users. This information is specifically relevant to professional voice users who are more aware of vocal quality changes and ear, nose and throat specialists/voice therapists who treat professional voice users with voice problems/disorders. Further research regarding the impact of increased vocal load during the premenstrual or menstrual phase in professional voice users using OCPs should be considered.

Treatment Outcomes for Professional Voice Users

Vocal Fatigue in Mandarin-Speaking Teachers: Characteristics of Phonation and Resonance.

Vocal Fatigue Index in Teachers Using Mokken Analysis

The Relationship Between Vocal Fatigue Index and Voice Handicap Index in University Professors With and Without Voice Complaint

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the voice use and associated vocal fatigue in teachers and to define their differences with other professional voice users and non-vocal non-professionals. Patients and Methods: Between May 2020 and October 2020, a total of 187 participants (41 males, 146 females; mean age: 32.6±10.5 years; range, 23 to 65 years) were administered the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) questionnaire. Of the participants, 93 were teachers and 94 were non-teachers recruited from Istanbul province of Turkey. The relationship between the VFI and sociodemographic characteristics, professional activity, talkativeness, duration of active vocal use, and active vocal complaints were analyzed. Results: The mean VFI score was 35.5±16.2. Those with a vocal complaint had significantly higher mean total VFI scores than those without any vocal complaints (p<0.001). Duration of voice use and total VFI scores were significantly higher in teachers than other professions (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The mean total VFI scores of teachers with or without vocal complaints did not significantly differ (p=0.065). Conclusion: Our study results suggest that voice disorders are more common among teachers, compared to non-professional voice users. It is important to reveal the etiology of voice problems in teachers, particularly for early diagnosis and immediate treatment.

The study aimed to describe the outcomes of the voice use reduction (VUR) program on voice quality and vocal fatigue (VF) in occupational voice users (OVUs). A within-subject, quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test research design was performed on 30 OVUs. Perceptual and acoustic outcome measures were employed pre-and post-implementation of the VUR, including the GRBASI 4-point rating scale, jitter, shimmer, fundamental frequency ( F0), harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), maximum phonation time (MPT), frequency min and max, intensity min and max, the dysphonia severity index (DSI), and the vocal fatigue index (VFI). The pre-and post-test outcomes revealed significant ( p < .001) decreases in perceptual G (Grade of hoarseness), R (Roughness), A (Asthenia), S (Strain), and I (Instability). Perceptual normality in these areas increased significantly ( p < .001). Acoustic measures revealed significant ( p < .05) decreases in Jitter%, Intensity (dB) Min, and DSI scores as well as significant ( p < .05) increases in MPT /a/, /s/, and /z/, Frequency (Hz) Max, and F0 (Hz) Max, indicating improved voice quality at post-test. The VUR program positively affected and improved OVUs’ perception of VF in the areas of tiredness of voice and physical discomfort. OVUs strongly perceive improvement of VF symptoms with rest regardless of the current level of VF they are experiencing. When approaching OVUs, clinicians are encouraged to use a combination of direct voice therapy and vocal hygiene accompanied by VUR to help develop healthier use of the voice, facilitate healing, and prevent further/future injury or disorder.

Psychometric Properties of the Vocal Fatigue Handicap Questionnaire in Kannada Among Teachers