Explore the vast range of titles available.

Recognizing individual variability is essential for developing targeted, personalized medical interventions. Vocal fatigue is a prevalent symptom and complaint among occupational voice users, but its identification has yielded mixed results. Vocal fatigue is a complex issue with heterogeneous biophysiological responses to vocal demands among individuals. This research aims to classify individuals as vocal demand responders to measure changes in vocal performance consistent with state vocal fatigue. A total of 37 participants (19F, 18M) completed a 30-minute vocal loading task (VLT) which consisted of loud speaking with background noise. Participants provided speech samples pre- and post-VLT and rated their vocal effort levels before, every 5 minutes during, and after the VLT. Perceived effort ratings and measured vocal performance from the speech samples were used to classify participants into distinct subgroups of vocal demand responders. Prior to classification there were few detectable changes associated with the VLT. However, the subgroup with both vocal effort and voice production demand responses displayed significant changes consistent with vocal fatigue while the other subgroups did not. These findings support the need for an individual-based approach to subtyping and measuring vocal fatigue and highlight its heterogeneous nature.

Recognizing individual variability is essential for developing targeted, personalized medical interventions. Vocal fatigue is a prevalent symptom and complaint among occupational voice users, but its identification has yielded mixed results. Vocal fatigue is a complex issue with heterogeneous biophysiological responses to vocal demands among individuals. This research aims to classify individuals as vocal demand responders to measure changes in vocal performance consistent with state vocal fatigue. A total of 37 participants (19F, 18M) completed a 30-minute vocal loading task (VLT) which consisted of loud speaking with background noise. Participants provided speech samples pre- and post-VLT and rated their vocal effort levels before, every 5 minutes during, and after the VLT. Perceived effort ratings and measured vocal performance from the speech samples were used to classify participants into distinct subgroups of vocal demand responders. Prior to classification there were few detectable changes associated with the VLT. However, the subgroup with both vocal effort and voice production demand responses displayed significant changes consistent with vocal fatigue while the other subgroups did not. These findings support the need for an individual-based approach to subtyping and measuring vocal fatigue and highlight its heterogeneous nature.

Purpose: The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of age and vocal loading on the respiratory and laryngeal systems. Method: Fourteen younger (M = 20 years) and 13 older (M = 75 years) healthy individuals participated in a 40-min vocal loading challenge in the presence of 70-dB background noise. Respiratory kinematic and laryngeal measurements were obtained before and after the challenge. Results: Following the loading challenge, participants in both groups reported greater speaking effort. Sound pressure level increased in the older group and decreased in the younger group after loading. Younger adults, but not older adults, used lower lung volume initiations and higher lung volume terminations after loading. Cepstral peak prominence increased with loading in both groups, but this change was of small magnitude and not clinically significant. Conclusions: The negative effects of loading were observed in respiratory and laryngeal measures, although the pattern of changes differed across the groups. These data increase our knowledge of underlying respiratory and laryngeal physiological changes following a loading challenge and may reflect some of the physiologic mechanisms underlying vocal fatigue.

Purpose: Intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle bioenergetics, the means by which muscles produce fuel for muscle metabolism, is an understudied aspect of laryngeal physiology with direct implications for voice habilitation and rehabilitation. The purpose of this review is to describe bioenergetic pathways identified in limb skeletal muscle and introduce bioenergetic physiology as a necessary parameter for theoretical models of laryngeal skeletal muscle function. Method: A comprehensive review of the human intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle physiology literature was conducted. Findings regarding intrinsic laryngeal muscle fiber complement and muscle metabolism in human models are summarized and exercise physiology methodology is applied to identify probable bioenergetic pathways used for voice function. Results: Intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle fibers described in human models support the fast, high-intensity physiological requirements of these muscles for biological functions of airway protection. Inclusion of muscle bioenergetic constructs in theoretical modeling of voice training, detraining, fatigue, and voice loading have been limited. Conclusions: Muscle bioenergetics, a key component for muscle training, detraining, and fatigue models in exercise science, is a little-considered aspect of intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle physiology. Partnered with knowledge of occupation-specific voice requirements, application of bioenergetics may inform novel considerations for voice habilitation and rehabilitation.

Purpose: Although a global picture exists of teachers' voice demands in general, few studies have compared specific groups of teachers to determine whether some are more at risk than others. This study compared the vocal loadings of kindergarten and elementary school teachers; professional and nonprofessional vocal load were determined for both groups. Method: Twelve kindergarten and 20 elementary school female teachers without voice problems were monitored during 1 workweek using the Ambulatory Phonation Monitor. Vocal loading parameters analyzed were F0, SPL, time dose, distance dose, and cycle dose. Results: Comparisons between the groups showed significantly higher cycle dose and distance dose for kindergarten teachers than for elementary school teachers, in both professional and nonprofessional environments. Professional and nonprofessional voice use comparisons showed significant differences for all parameters, indicating that vocal load was higher in the professional environment for both groups. Conclusions: The higher vocal doses measured in kindergarten teachers suggest that particular attention should be paid to this specific group of teachers. Although nonprofessional vocal load is lower than professional vocal load, it is important to take both into account because of their cumulative effects.

To measure the exposure to self-induced tissue vibration in speech, three vocal doses were defined and described: distance dose , which accumulates the distance that tissue particles of the vocal folds travel in an oscillatory trajectory; energy dissipation dose , which accumulates the total amount of heat dissipated over a unit volume of vocal fold tissues; and time dose , which accumulates the total phonation time. These doses were compared to a previously used vocal dose measure, the vocal loading index , which accumulates the number of vibration cycles of the vocal folds. Empirical rules for viscosity and vocal fold deformation were used to calculate all the doses from the fundamental frequency (F 0 ) and sound pressure level (SPL) values of speech. Six participants were asked to read in normal, monotone, and exaggerated speech and the doses associated with these vocalizations were calculated. The results showed that large F 0 and SPL variations in speech affected the dose measures, suggesting that accumulation of phonation time alone is insufficient. The vibration exposure of the vocal folds in normal speech was related to the industrial limits for hand-transmitted vibration, in which the safe distance dose was derived to be about 500 m. This limit was found rather low for vocalization; it was related to a comparable time dose of about 17 min of continuous vocalization, or about 35 min of continuous reading with normal breathing and unvoiced segments. The voicing pauses in normal speech and dialogue effectively prolong the safe time dose. The derived safety limits for vocalization will likely require refinement based on a more detailed knowledge of the differences in hand and vocal fold tissue morphology and their response to vibrational stress, and on the effect of recovery of the vocal fold tissue during voicing pauses.

A well-functioning voice is an essential tool for one third of the labour force. Vocal demands vary to a great extent between the different voice and speech professions. In professions with heavy vocal loading (e.g. school and kindergarten teachers), occupational voice disorders threatening working ability are common. Vocal loading is a combination of prolonged voice use and additional loading factors (e.g. background noise, acoustics, air quality) affecting the fundamental frequency, type and loudness of phonation or the vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds as well as the external frame of the larynx. The prevention and treatment of occupational voice disorders calls for improved occupational safety and health (OSH) arrangements for voice and speech professionals. On the basis of epidemiological and acoustic-physiological research, the presence of risk to vocal health can be substantiated. From the point of view of the physical load on the vocal apparatus, loading-related physiological changes (adaptation) may play a role in the occupational risk. Environmental factors affect vocal loading changes. In teaching professions, the working environment is shared with children, who benefit from amendments of OSH legislation concerning their teachers.

Overview: Working music theater singers (MTS) typically have a heavy vocal load and little is known about their perception of vocal function. The Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily (EASE) was used to assess professional MTS' perceptions of current singing voice status and to compare scores across demographic and performance characteristics and to evaluate the construct validity of the EASE and its subscales (VF = Vocal Fatigue, PRI = Pathologic-Risk Indicators). Methods: Professional MTS (n = 284) completed an online survey including the EASE and two additional Vocal Concern (VC) items. Scores were compared across age, gender, whether currently working, role, perceived vocal load over the past 24 h and self-reported voice problem. Results: For the whole cohort, statistically significant differences were found on all subscales according to whether or not singers perceived themselves to have a voice problem (p < 0.001). Currently performing singers were significantly different from those not performing in a show on the EASE Total (p = 0.014) and VF (p = 0.002), but not for PRI and VC. In the currently performing singer group, significant differences were found for gender, role and perceived voice problem on the EASE Total and all subscales (p < 0.01). Significantly higher VF scores were recorded for singers with heavy vocal load (p = 0.01), but there were no differences on the EASE Total (p = 0.57), PRI (p = 0.19) or VC subscales (p = 0.53). Among these performing singers, no significant age differences were found for any EASE subscales. Conclusions: These findings provide further validation of the EASE as a useful tool for measuring singers' perceptions of vocal function and suggest that the subscales should be scored separately. Future evaluation of the EASE against objective clinical assessments (e.g., videostroboscopy) is recommended. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Aims: This study investigated whether speaking a foreign language affects the subjective notions of vocal fatigue, and whether acoustic measurements reveal a higher vocal loading. Methods: The speech samples of 20 native Finnish-speaking and 23 native English-speaking subjects were recorded in Finnish and in English. From the speech samples, fundamental frequency, equivalent sound level, total duration of voiced speech, speech rate, alpha ratio and L1-L0 level difference were analyzed. Vocal doses were calculated. Results: According to subjective notions, the voice gets tired more quickly when speaking a foreign language. The mean fundamental frequency increased but the speech rate and total duration of voiced speech decreased significantly when speaking a foreign language. Thus, the vocal doses decreased. Conclusions: The subjective sensations of increased vocal fatigue may be due to increased mental stress rather than to higher vocal loading. However, a trend that speaking a foreign language may involve more loading was found in L1-L0 level difference and in the doses normalized to time dose. Longer speech samples should be studied. Voice quality-based indicators of vocal loading are worth testing in addition to the measures based on the amount of voicing in speech.

Occupational voice disorders make the most frequently certified category of occupational diseases in Poland, making up approximately 20% of all cases. This study presents the current knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of occupational voice disorders. It stresses the importance of the evaluation of vocal loading by means of objective measurements. Furthermore, this study discusses the medico-legal aspects of the procedure of certifying occupational voice disorders in Poland. The paper also describes the preventive programs addressed particularly to teachers, including multidisciplinary and holistic management of occupational dysphonia. Their role in the improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH) arrangement for vocally demanding professions is emphasized.