Self-Evaluation of Voice as a Treatment Outcome Measure

Abstract

This study addressed two self-evaluation questionnaires in investigating the effects of voice hygiene lecture (VHL, 3 h) and additional voice training (VT) or Voice Massage™ (VM; both 5 h) in 90 female teachers. The subjects assessed their voice quality, ease of phonation and tiredness of throat before and after a working day at the beginning and end of the school term using a visual analogue scale (VAS) (Questionnaire 1). At the end of the term, the degree of positive influence of the interventions was reported on VAS, and the type of influence was indicated by choosing one or more of three alternatives (voice quality, audibility and endurance) or by writing a free comment (Questionnaire 2). Questionnaire 1 was pretested and found to be reliable and valid for self-evaluation of voice. At the end of term, the VM and VT groups reported more positive influence of the interventions than did the VHL group. The reported influence did not correlate with working-day-related changes in sensations. Increased difficulty of phonation and tiredness of throat was found in the VHL group at the end of the term. However, the groups did not differ significantly from each other. The challenges of self-evaluations as outcome measures are discussed.