Abstract
Vocal loading tasks are often used to investigate the relationship between voice use and vocal fatigue in laboratory settings. The present study investigated the concept of a novel quantitative dose-based vocal loading task for vocal fatigue evaluation. Ten female subjects participated in the study. Voice use was monitored and quantified using an online vocal distance dose calculator during six consecutive 30-min long sessions. Voice quality was evaluated subjectively using the CAPE-V and SAVRa before, between, and after each vocal loading task session. Fatigue-indicative symptoms, such as cough, swallowing, and voice clearance, were recorded. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the overall severity, the roughness, and the strain ratings obtained from CAPE-V obeyed similar trends as the three ratings from the SAVRa. These metrics increased over the first two thirds of the sessions to reach a maximum, and then decreased slightly near the session end. Quantitative metrics obtained from surface neck accelerometer signals were found to obey similar trends. The results consistently showed that an initial adjustment of voice quality was followed by vocal saturation, supporting the effectiveness of the proposed loading task.
Highlights
Vocal fatigue may be diagnosed through a series of voice symptoms, which include, for example, hoarse and breathy vocal qualities, pitch breaks, reduced pitch and loudness ranges, throat discomfort, and unsteady voice [1]
QE6, the maximum (0.88) discomfort level (DISC) scores occurred at QE7, and the maximum (0.82) inability to produce soft voice (IPSV) scores occurred at QE5
This indicated a cumulative effect, i.e., vocal fatigue increased over time during Vocal loading tasks (VLTs) sessions
Summary
Vocal fatigue may be diagnosed through a series of voice symptoms, which include, for example, hoarse and breathy vocal qualities, pitch breaks, reduced pitch and loudness ranges, throat discomfort, and unsteady voice [1]. Vocal fatigue may be experienced by any individuals during their life time, but it is more frequently encountered by professional voice users in occupational settings. Vocal fatigue increases vocal effort and decreases speaking stamina. Vocal fatigue can lead to voice disorders, such as vocal hyperfunction or vocal nodules. Vocal fatigue is difficult to define because many factors, such as self-reported feelings, doctor-rated symptoms, and instrumental measures, could be criteria for its determination. A self-reported feeling of vocal fatigue might be due to psychological stress, thereby not causing much detectable change in physiological measures [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
