Journal Article

Quantifying Vocal Fatigue Recovery: Dynamic Vocal Recovery Trajectories after a Vocal Loading Exercise

Hunter, Eric J., Titze, Ingo R.

2009

Overview

Objectives We quantified the recovery of voice following a 2-hour vocal loading exercise (oral reading). Methods Eighty-six adult participants tracked their voice recovery using short vocal tasks and perceptual ratings after an initial vocal loading exercise and for the following 2 days. Results Short-term recovery was apparent, with 90% recovery within 4 to 6 hours and full recovery at 12 to 18 hours. Recovery was shown to be similar to a dermal wound healing trajectory. Conclusions The new recovery trajectory highlighted by the vocal loading exercise in the current study is called a vocal recovery trajectory. By comparing vocal fatigue to dermal wound healing, this trajectory is parallel to a chronic wound healing trajectory (as opposed to an acute wound healing trajectory). This parallel suggests that vocal fatigue from the daily use of the voice could be treated as a chronic wound, with the healing and repair mechanisms in a state of constant repair. In addition, there is likely a vocal fatigue threshold at which point the level of tissue damage would shift the chronic healing trajectory to an acute healing trajectory.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Annals Publishing Compagny,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Adult / Adults / Biological and medical sciences / Cohort Studies / Female / Humans / Male / Medical sciences / Non tumoral diseases / Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology / Recovery / Recovery of Function - physiology / Self-Assessment / Sex Factors / Speech Acoustics / Speech Therapy / Therapy Progress Assessment / Time Factors / Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology / Vocal Fatigue / Vocal Folds / Voice Disorders - etiology / Voice Disorders - physiopathology / Voice Quality - physiology / Voice Training