Vocal Tract Discomfort Symptoms Research Articles

Teacher's voice: vocal tract discomfort symptoms, vocal intensity and noise in the classroom.

To identify a possible correlation between teachers vocal intensity and the noise in the classroom, as well as between vocal intensity and the symptoms of vocal tract discomfort before and after classes. 27 Elementary School I teachers participated in the study. We used the questionnaires "Vocal Production Condition of the Teacher" and "Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale - VTD" which were applied before and after the class. A properly calibrated noise meter was used for measuring noise in the classroom and the teachers' vocal intensity. There was a moderate positive correlation between vocal intensity and noise and also a significant difference between the VTD scale and the teachers with and without vocal complaint before and after classes. When compared separately on both occasions, there was an increase in the group's scores for both groups and with and without complaints. We found association of the vocal tract symptoms before and after classes, frequency of burning, itching, sore throat and sensitive throat were observed. The intensity of symptoms was significant for sore throat, itching and feeling of lump in the throat. We observed significant values of vocal intensity and frequency and intensity of symptoms for sensitive throat and lump in the throat before the class, and sore throat and lump in the throat after the. The increase in teacher's vocal intensity correlates to high noise levels in the classroom. The evidence suggests correlation between vocal intensity and discomfort of the vocal tract, with most of the symptoms reported in greater frequency and intensity after the class.

Prevalence of Vocal Tract Discomfort in the Flemish Population Without Self-Perceived Voice Disorders

The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) in the Flemish population without self-perceived voice disorders using the VTD scale and to examine the relationship between vocal load and VTD symptoms. In addition, consistency between the VTD scale and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Corporal Pain scale was evaluated. A total of 333 participants completed the VTD scale, the VHI, and the Corporal Pain scale. Patient information about study and voice-related hobbies (for students), state of (non)professional voice user (for employees), smoking, shouting, allergy, and voice therapy was taken into account. A median number of three VTD symptoms was reported, and 88% of the participants showed at least one symptom of VTD. Dryness (70%), tickling (62%), and lump in the throat (54%) were the most frequently occurring symptoms. The frequency and severity of VTD were significantly higher in participants who followed voice-related studies, played a team sport, were part of a youth movement, shouted frequently, and received voice therapy in the past (P<0.05). Finally, low correlations were obtained between frequency and severity of the VTD scale and total VHI score (r=0.226-0.411) or frequency and intensity of the Corporal Pain scale (r=0.016-0.408). The prevalence of VTD is relatively high in the Flemish population without self-perceived voice disorders, although the frequency and severity of the symptoms are rather low. Vocal load seems to influence the frequency and severity of VTD. Finally, the VTD scale seems to reveal clinically important information that cannot be gathered from any other protocol.

Vocal Tract Discomfort Symptoms in Patients With Different Voice Disorders

To analyze the symptoms of vocal tract discomfort in patients with different voice disorders. This study was descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional. A total of 210 subjects with vocal complaints and prior medical assessment were divided into five groups according to diagnosis: no laryngeal lesion, lesion to membranous portion, voice disorder of neurological origin, incomplete glottal closure without organic or neurologic cause, and voice disorder secondary to gastroesophageal reflux. All participants responded to the vocal tract discomfort scale at the time of assessment. Patients had a mean of 4.01±0.70 symptoms, with sore throat being the most commonly reported. Compared with patients in other groups, patients with lesions in the membranous portion of the vocal folds and those with voice disorder due to gastroesophageal reflux showed an increased number of symptoms. Voice disorders of reflux were shown to result in a higher frequency of sore throat and lump in the throat than in those with neurological etiology. The intensity of the lump in the throat was higher in patients with reflux than in patients with neurologic voice disorders. There was a difference between the number, frequency, and intensity of symptoms of vocal tract discomfort based on the type of voice disorder.

Applicability of the Polish Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) scale in the diagnostics of occupational dysphonia

Occupational dysphonia is mainly of hyperfunctional origin, expressed by complaints experienced in the vocal tract. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the applicability of the Polish Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) scale in the diagnostics of occupational dysphonia. Patients with occupational dysphonia (n = 218) and controls (n = 140) were subjected to the VTD scale, VHI evaluation, and maximum phonation time (MPT) measurement. The patients also underwent videostroboscopy. The comparison of the frequency and severity of VTD symptoms showed that the results of the study group were significantly higher (P = 0.000). The VTD scale is characterized by high values of Cronbach's alpha. This study results indicatethat the VTD scale can be a valuable tool, useful in the diagnostics of occupational dysphonia.