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Objective. This study examines factors predicting self-reported voice symptoms in call center workers. Methods. Multivariate analysis and predictive modeling assess personal, work-related, acoustic, and behavioral factors. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves are employed. Results. Age and sleep patterns impacted voice quality and effort, while workplace factors influenced symptom perception. Unhealthy vocal behaviors related to tense voice and increased effort, while hydration was protective. Voice acoustics showed diagnostic potential, supported by ROC data. These findings emphasize voice symptom complexity in call center professionals, necessitating comprehensive assessment. Limitations. This study recognizes its limitations, including a moderate-sized convenience sample and reliance on PROM metrics. Future research should incorporate more objective measures in addition to self-reports and acoustic analysis. Value. This research provides novel insights into the interplay of personal, occupational, and voice-related factors in developing voice symptoms among call center workers. Predictive modeling enhances risk assessment and understanding of individual susceptibility to voice disorders. Conclusion. Results show associations between various factors and self-reported voice symptoms. Protective factors include sleeping more than six hours and consistent hydration, whereas risk factors include working conditions, such as location and behaviors like smoking. Diagnostic models indicate good accuracy for some voice symptom PROMs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive models considering work factors, vocal behaviors, and acoustic parameters to understand voice issues complexity.

Objectives. This pilot study aimed to identify and test a battery of time-efficient and cost-effective voice and swallowing screening tools for post-extubated patients in Chile. Methods. A panel of four experts selected and rated voice and swallowing screening tools. Seven measures were selected: smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) and maximum phonation time (MPT) for voice assessment, Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (V-VST) for swallowing, voluntary and reflex peak cough flow for cough assessment, Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), and Vocal Symptom Scale (VoiSS) for patient-reported outcomes. These tools were applied to four post-extubation patients within 48-72 hours post-hospital discharge, alongside the assessment of 17 matched controls. Results. Post-extubation patients showed significantly shorter MPT, lower CPPS values, increased V-VST dysphagia signs, reduced voluntary peak cough flow, and more pronounced symptoms on both the VoiSS and EAT-10 compared to controls. Limitations. The study had a modest sample size and relied solely on clinical screening tools. Value. This pilot study suggests a feasible and cost-effective approach to voice and swallowing screening for post-extubation patients, valuable in resource-constrained settings. Conclusion. While these accessible tools are not gold-standard assessments, they offer valuable insights and can guide future research. This study underscores the potential of selected tools in facilitating early detection of voice and swallowing disorders in post-extubation patients.

Este artículo de reflexión aborda aspectos que dan cuenta de la complejidad en el planteamiento de objetivos en torno a los marcos de abordaje vocal contemporáneos. Se plantea la complejidad de la selección y redacción de objetivos para la intervención en voz holística y ecléctica, y desde ella, la necesidad de incorporar el modelo CIF y las recomendaciones de la ASHA para el desarrollo de objetivos centrados en la persona, tanto a corto como a largo plazo. Se propone la utilización del método de análisis SMART y su aplicación específica para objetivos de intervención de la voz. Además, se abordan los aspectos formales que se deben considerar para una redacción precisa. Finalmente, se ejemplifica la propuesta mediante un caso clínico. Esta propuesta pretende ser de utilidad para fines terapéuticos y/o para el ámbito académico, tanto en la discusión de la formulación y diseño de planes terapéuticos como en el pensamiento reflexivo asociado al abordaje vocal.

This reflection paper addresses the importance of the interaction between voice perception and voice production, emphasizing the processes of auditory-vocal integration that are not yet widely reported in the context of voice clinicians. Given the above, this article seeks to 1) highlight the important link between voice production and voice perception and 2) consider whether this relationship might be exploited clinically for diagnostic purposes and therapeutic benefit. Existing theories on speech production and its interaction with auditory perception provide context for discussing why the evaluation of auditory-vocal processes could help identify associated origins of dysphonia and inform the clinician around appropriate management strategies. Incorporating auditory-vocal integration assessment through sensorimotor adaptation paradigm testing could prove to be an important addition to voice assessment protocols at the clinical level. Further, if future studies can specify the means to manipulate and enhance a person’s auditory-vocal integration, the efficiency of voice therapy could be increased, leading to improved quality of life for people with voice disorders.

Copyright of Revista de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias de la Salud (RIICS) is the property of Fundacion Universitaria Maria Cano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: While several acoustic voice metrics are available for clinical voice assessment, there remains a significant need for reliable and ecologically valid tools. The Acoustic Voice Quality Index version 03.01 (AVQI-3) and Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) hold potential due to their comprehensive assessment approach, incorporating diverse voice aspects. However, these tools still need to be validated in English-speaking populations. Methods: This study assessed the discriminatory accuracy and validity of AVQI-3 and ABI in 197 participants, including 148 with voice disorders. Voice samples were collected, followed by AVQI-3 and ABI calculations. Additionally, auditory-perceptual assessments were conducted by a panel of speech-language pathologists. Results: AVQI-3 and ABI effectively identified disordered voice quality, evidenced by high accuracy (AUCs: 0.84, 0.89), sensitivity, and specificity (thresholds: AVQI-3 = 1.17, ABI = 2.35). Strong positive correlations were observed with subjective voice quality assessments (rs = 0.72, rs = 0.77, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study highlights AVQI-3 and ABI as promising instruments for clinically assessing voice disorders in U.S. English speakers, underscoring their utility in clinical practice and voice research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to elevated vocal health risk in industries such as call centers, there is a need to have accessible and quick self‐report tools for voice symptoms. This study aimed to determine if the concurrent and construct validity of three visual analog scales (VASs) of voice quality and symptoms could be used as a screening tool in call center agents. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was carried out in three call center companies. The Voice Handicap Index‐10 (VHI‐10) and a vocal hygiene and symptoms survey were administered to 66 call center workers. Further, acoustic parameters including harmonics‐to‐noise ratio (HNR), smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPs), L1‐L0 slope, and Alpha ratio were collected. Finally, workers completed three VASs capturing self‐perception of vocal effort (VAS‐1), voice quality (VAS‐2), and vocal fatigue (VAS‐3). Linear regression models with bootstrapping evaluated the possible relationship between the three VASs measurements, self‐perceived vocal symptoms, and acoustic parameters. Results: VAS‐1 scores were associated with HNR and voice breaks, VAS‐2 with voice breaks, and VAS‐3 with Alpha ratio. Using the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the highest AUC for detecting an altered VHI‐10 questionnaire score was observed for the three VASs. Also, the highest AUC for detecting altered CPPs was reached for the VAS‐1. Conclusions: VAS as a self‐report instrument of vocal symptoms is related to psychosocial voice impairment and alterations of acoustic voice parameters in call center workers. Such instruments could be easily implemented to identify voice complaints in these populations. Level of Evidence: 2 (Diagnosis research question) Laryngoscope, 133:1676–1682, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias de la Salud (RIICS) is the property of Fundacion Universitaria Maria Cano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Teachers rely heavily on their voices, making them susceptible to voice disorders affecting their teaching efficacy and well-being. This study explores the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives, a necessary step in designing intervention points., Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with 18 teachers (13 females, 5 males) from diverse backgrounds. They represented diverse teaching areas, grade levels, and school districts. Data were analyzed through content analysis. In this process, 52 codes were identified, totaling 753 code references., Findings: This study uncovered insights into the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives. In-depth analysis of the interviews with 18 teachers resulted in 6 key themes: (1) Voice is a crucial occupational tool for teachers for instruction, engagement, and classroom management; (2) working conditions significantly impact teachers' vocal health, with environmental factors and vocal load contributing to voice problems; (3) vocal health concerns are frequently reported by teachers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive health management strategies; (4) there are notable best practices and gaps in vocal care, with teachers expressing the need for more resources and formal training; (5) amplification devices play a significant role in sustaining teachers' vocal health, although access to and use of these tools is inconsistent; and (6) voice-related problems have a significant emotional and psychosocial impact on teachers, affecting their self-perception, professional identity, and well-being., Discussion: This study highlights the critical role of vocal health in teachers' professional lives, revealing its impact on teaching efficacy, well-being, and professional identity. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems, including vocal health programs, resources like amplification devices, and counseling for emotional impacts. The six identified themes emphasize the necessity of holistic interventions to enhance teachers' well-being and effectiveness., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to determine whether participation in a single, 1-hour focus group would spur a change in health-related behavior. All the respondents were teachers who had participated in a focus group designed to learn about teachers' understanding that voice is a working tool. In the discussions, health-related behaviors were discussed as ways to deal with possible vocal strain or injury. Two months later, a follow-up survey was distributed to these participants asking them if they recalled the discussion and if they had sought out more information and/or had changed their vocal behavior due to their participation in the focus group. The qualitative data shows that the majority of these respondents both recalled the messages and had engaged in some type of health-related behavior change due to their participation in the focus group. Behavior change included such modifications as drinking more water and use of voice-amplification equipment in the classroom. Implications of this finding are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 The Voice Foundation. All rights reserved.)