Lip trill effects on vocal function, vocal pitch, and harmonics-to-noise ratio: A multiple baseline study of three vocally healthy females

Background@#The lip trill is a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise found to have positive outcomes on vocal parameters of healthy individuals after a single session. However, the effect of several lip trill sessions has not been studied.@*Objective@#This study investigated the effect of a 3- to 4-week lip trill exercise program on Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), Maximum Phonation Frequency Range (MPFR), Harmonics-to-Noise Ratio (HNR), and mean Speaking Fundamental Frequency (mean SFF).@*Methods@#Three vocally untrained healthy females with perceptually normal voices participated in a multiple-baseline, single-case experimental research. Five to seven direct training sessions were randomly assigned. Self-implementation was encouraged thereafter. Participants were assessed on all outcome measures for 15 sessions. Data were visualized and inspected. Cohen’s d was also derived using Standardized Mean Difference for single-subject research.@*Results@#Visual and statistical analyses revealed a decreased MPT when training was introduced, increased MPFR variability during the training phase, and increased stability in mean SFF post-training. Perceived effects include vocal freedom, decreased laryngeal stress, and vocal conditioning. Vocal outcomes in one participant yielded a significant effect on MPFR and mean SFF and a small effect on HNR.@*Conclusion@#There is evidence of lip trill effect on pitch control and vocal conditioning. Findings also revealed that motivation, exercise frequency, and adherence could contribute to positive gains in vocally healthy speakers. Further investigation in consideration of the study findings and limitations is warranted.

Vocal health and stress: the occupational voice users' perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic / Salud vocal y estrés: la perspectiva de los usuarios ocupacionales de la voz durante la pandemia COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a new scenario for vocal and psychological morbidity among the entire population. Occupational voice users have had to adapt to these unique circumstances, confronting brand-new risks that increase the odds of developing and exacerbate vocal and mental health disor-ders. This paper addresses some of these challenges during and after COVID-19 pandemic. As a major outcome, we identified that work-related factors in online environments could be altering the vocal and mental health among occupational voice users. Interventions should focus on a comprehensive assessment of risk fac-tors, including poor mental health previous to a crisis, life-threatening circumstances, separation from family, panic and bereavement. Similarly, this type of worker must receive instructions in voice training, muscle relaxation and mindfulness techniques, and educational technolog

La pandemia del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) ha creado un nuevo escenario para la morbilidad vocal y psicológica entre la población mundial. Los usuarios ocupacio-nales de la voz se han tenido que adaptar a estas circunstancias únicas, enfrentando nuevos riesgos que aumentan las probabilidades de desarrollar y agravar desórdenes vocales y mentales. Este documento aborda algunos de estos desafíos durante y des-pués de la pandemia del COVID-19. Un resultado sustancial que fue identificado fue la incidencia de los factores relacionados con el trabajo online sobre la salud vocal y mental de los usuarios ocupacionales de la voz. Las intervenciones deberían enfo-carse en la evaluación exhaustiva de los factores de riesgo, incluyendo el estudio de la salud mental previo a una crisis, circunstancias que amenacen la vida, separación

Study on Assessment and Treatment Patterns of Speech-Language Pathologists in Pediatric Vocal Problem Through Multicenter Survey

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric vocal health problems are relatively common. However, it is not yet well studied whether uniform diagnosis and treatment is done properly in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods that the Korean speech therapists use to diagnose and treat pediatric voice problem. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An anonymous online questionnaire was administered to 32 speech language therapists registered at the Korean laryngeal speech linguistics society detailing demographics, employment institution, general management of pediatric patients with vocal problem including assessment and treatment procedures. RESULTS: Current practice patterns were analyzed on 32 speech language therapists providing services in South Korea mostly working at tertiary university hospital. One third of pediatric patients were assessed without proceeding to treatment. One fifth of patients were treated without assessment. Perceptual assessment was the main pre-treatment assessment methods used. Treatment was done in the following order : Voice rest, SOVT, yawn-sigh and resonant voice. Post-treatment evaluation was used in the following order : Instrumental assessment, clinical judgment, and recording comparison. CONCLUSION: Speech language therapists practice in South Korea mostly follows the ASHA practice guidelines. However, there are still great amount of cases in which only the evaluation was done without appropriate treatment. Further research is needed to make SPLs more systematic and efficient for evaluating and treating pediatric vocal patients.

Saúde vocal do professor: intervenção fonoaudiológica na atenção primária à saúde / Vocal health of teacher: phonoaudiologic intervention in primary health care

OBJETIVO: apresentar uma ação de promoção a saúde vocal dos professores de três escolas municipais situadas no Distrito Sanitário III, em Recife-PE, no âmbito da Atenção Primária à Saúde - APS. MÉTODO: foi aplicado um questionário sobre o histórico vocal dos professores e realizadas seis oficinas de voz, com o intuito de sensibilizar os docentes sobre a importância dos cuidados com a voz e incentivar a prática dos exercícios vocais preventivamente como ação cotidiana dentro do processo de trabalho. Por fim, foi aplicado um questionário para avaliar a percepção dos docentes em relação às oficinas. RESULTADOS: as educadoras encontravam-se na faixa etária de 17-55 anos, tinham 10,4 anos em média de exercício profissional e 96,3% relatou a percepção de problemas com a voz ou fala, sendo que quanto maior a frequência de aparecimento do problema, maior era o tempo de exercício profissional, a jornada de trabalho e a idade. Os depoimentos foram positivos em relação às oficinas, sendo que 80% das docentes referiu melhora no desempenho profissional e 93,3% afirmou que continuará realizando os exercícios, mas apontaram a falta de tempo como principal dificuldade para realização dos exercícios rotineiramente. CONCLUSÃO: estes resultados identificam a importância da introdução de ações voltadas à saúde do professor com o intuito de amenizar os efeitos do trabalho sobre sua saúde, e a inserção do fonoaudiólogo na APS a fim de facilitar estas ações na prática cotidiana. A utilização do espaço escolar permite configurá-lo como espaço social para tomada de consciência, reflexão, discussão sobre as condições de trabalho e como um ambiente saudável.

PURPOSE: to promote the vocal health of teachers from three municipal schools situated in the III Sanitary District, in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil, which is in the sphere of PHC (Primary Health Care). METHOD: a questionnaire on vocal history of teachers was answered in six voice workshops to raise awareness among teachers about the importance of voice care and to encourage the practice of vocal exercises as a preventative action in their daily process of teaching. In the last meeting a questionnaire was presented to assess the result of the workshops. RESULTS: the teachers were aged 17-55 years, were on average 10.4 years of professional experience and 96.3% reported problems with the perception of voice or speech, and the higher the frequency of occurrence of the problem, was the largest exercise time professional, working day and age. The statements were positive about the workshops, with 80% of teachers reported improvement in work performance and 93.3% said it will continue doing the exercises, but pointed out the lack of time as the main difficulty in the exercises routinely. CONCLUSION: these results identify the importance of introducing health actions of the teacher in order to mitigate the effects of work on their health, and the insertion of a speech therapist in the PHC to facilitate these actions in everyday practice. The use of school space lets set it up as a space for social awareness, reflection, discussion about working conditions as well as a healthy environment.