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.

A Comparison of the Effects of Voice Massage™ and Voice Hygiene Lecture on Self-Reported Vocal Well-Being and Acoustic and Perceptual Speech Parameters in Female Teachers

“…The generally very positive experience reported after VM may reflect the fact that the participants of the VM group received personal attention from the therapist, which is prone to build positive interaction and confidentiality typically related to massage treatment [37] . In line with the present results, an earlier study [25] reported many positive sensations after VM, while no significant acoustic or perceptual effects were found. One reason may be that the type of change in acoustic or perceptual parameters that can be regarded as positive are prone to differ depending on the starting point (i.e.…”

“…[23] . Some results for some of the same subjects, but with a different focus, have also been reported [23][24][25] . The questionnaire collected background variables like age, health (allergies, reflux etc.…”

“…The subjective results as an outcome measure have been considered in more detail in a previous article by Laukkanen et al [25] .…”

Intervenções vocais diretas e indiretas em professores: revisão sistemática da literatura

“…As a result of the initial search, 677 studies were identified, among which five (5,9,(13)(14)(15) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were considered relevant for the sample of this work. Four more articles (3,4,16,17) , found in the references of the studies selected for the reading of the full text, were added as additional references.…”

“…Furthermore, voice training exercises increase the blood flow and improve breathing, allowing the increase of muscle contractions and elasticity (8) . Several studies have shown positive effects of voice therapy and training in parameters assessed by acoustic and auditory-perceptual analyses in terms of decreased perturbation (jitter and shimmer), increased signal-to-noise ratio and a better vocal quality (9) . However, few prevention programs are designed for teachers and future teachers (7) .…”