A study of VHI scores and acoustic features in street vendors as occupational voice users

A Study of Voice Handicap and Acoustic Measures in Arab Kuwaiti Prospective Professional Singers

INTRODUCTION

Despite its clinical significance, few studies have explored the applicability of the validated Arabic version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-Arab) in professional voice users, especially singers. The correlation between VHI-Arab scores and acoustic measures in this targeted group remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore Arab Kuwaiti prospective professional singers' perception of voice handicap using the validated VHI-Arab. Additionally, we examined the association between VHI-Arab scores and acoustic measures such as fundamental frequency (F0), shimmer, jitter, and signal-to-noise ratio.

METHODS

VHI-Arab scores and acoustic measures of 100 adult prospective professional singers (50 females and 50 males) were compared with those of 100 adult controls (50 females and 50 males).

RESULTS

Female prospective professional singers differed significantly from female controls in terms of functional and physical subscale scores, total VHI-Arab scores, and shimmer and jitter values. Male prospective professional singers neither showed significant differences in VHI-Arab scores nor in acoustic measures; however, their shimmer values showed significant difference. There was no correlation between VHI-Arab scores and acoustic measures.

CONCLUSION

Kuwaiti prospective professional singers did not perceive their voice as handicapped. Female prospective professional singers had a better perception of their voice compared with female controls. The results of the current study suggest that the perception of voice handicap and acoustic measures are different attributes that do not correlate.

Occupational voice is a work in progress: active risk management, habilitation and rehabilitation

The current article reviews recent literature examining occupational voice use and occupational voice disorders (January 2018–July 2019).

The Effect of Electronic Cigarettes on Voice Quality

OBJECTIVES

Cigarette-associated diseases have frequently been detected in the field of otolaryngology. Cigarettes can cause changes in voice performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of e-cigarettes on voice performance compared with conventional cigarettes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that included 81 healthy volunteers. To provide standardization, all patients were men. The patients were divided into three groups: e-cigarette users (group 1, n = 21), conventional cigarette users (group 2, n = 30), and nonsmokers who had never smoked (group 3, n = 30). The subjective and objective voice analyses were performed for all the three groups in the study. F0, jitter %, shimmer %, shimmer dB, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) values, and Voice Handicap Index 10 were statistically compared between all groups.

RESULTS

The mean Voice Handicap Index 10 values of the conventional cigarette users were higher than those of the e-cigarette users and control group. No significant difference regarding the F0, jitter, and shimmer percentage values between the groups was detected; however, a significant difference was detected regarding the shimmer dB and HNR values between the groups. The mean shimmer dB values of the conventional cigarette group were higher than those of the control group and electronic cigarette users, but the mean HNR values were lower than those of the control group and electronic cigarette users.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of e-cigarettes on voice were detected as mild compared with conventional cigarettes, according to the subjective and objective voice analysis results in our study.