Prakash Boominathan

Vocal Abuse and Vocal Hygiene Practices Among Different Level Professional Voice Users in India: A Survey

Abstract Vocal hygiene is a primary aspect of concern for professional voice users. This study aimed to describe vocal abuse and vocal hygiene practices among different levels of professional voice users in India. A questionnaire regarding vocal abuse and vocal hygiene practices was administered to 400 voice professionals (singers, teachers, politicians, and vendors). The results revealed politicians and vendors had the highest point prevalence and frequency of voice problems. Politicians had highest prevalence of abusive non-vocal habits. About 84.3% of voice professionals considered that abusive (nonvocal) habits had a negative influence on voice. All subjects indulged in throat clearing, loud speaking/singing for long durations (abusive vocal habits). An equal number of subjects reported that they would resort to home remedies or not seek any help. Both ancient traditional practices (consuming milk with pepper or turmeric) and empirically proven methods are practiced among these different voice professionals in India to prevent voice problems. Lack of awareness to treat the voice problems earlier was high among vendors and politicians. The findings from the study would enable speech and voice pathologists to plan strategically to prevent voice problems and reach these voice professionals.

Multi parametric voice assessment: sri ramachandra university protocol.

Emergence of “Voice specialty clinics” in ENT and Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) practice in India necessitates development of standard protocols for assessment and management of voice disorders. Based on recommendations from European Laryngological Society in Dejonckere (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 258:77–82, 2001), a comprehensive voice assessment protocol was adapted for Indian population. This study aimed at verifying the face validity and feasibility of using the developed voice assessment protocol in a multi specialty tertiary care hospital. It included: history, clinical examination, visual analysis, perceptual analysis, aerodynamic measures, acoustic analysis and patients’ self assessment of voice. The developed protocol was administered on 200 patients with voice concerns and problems. Correlation of self assessment with the assessment by the professionals was done using Kendaul tau_b correlation test. The scores of self assessment did not correlate significantly with acoustic measures. Differences in lab findings and self percept of voice indicated that these two were complementary measures in the protocol. Further, diagnosis and management decisions were arrived through a consensus discussion involving the ENT surgeon, SLP and the patient. Vocal hygiene and voice conservation were advised to all patients. Recommendations for voice therapy and/or surgery were provided based on findings from the protocol. The study demonstrated feasibility of using a comprehensive protocol for effective documentation, comparisons, review, training and treatment planning.

Vocal Hygiene Awareness Program for Professional Voice Users (Teachers): An Evaluative Study from Chennai

Abstract Vocal hygiene awareness programs aim at educating vocal professionals regarding prevalent voice use, abuse, and misuse and address ways to prevent voice problems. This study investigated the efficacy of one such program on vocal hygiene education (lecture demonstration) designed for school teachers in Chennai. A questionnaire addressing various issues/aspects of vocal hygiene was developed. The teachers (65) had to complete the same twice (pre- and posteducation). These were compared for differences in scores, which indicated awareness of vocal hygiene related issues after the program. The post-test scores were found to be 9% higher than pretest scores which suggested that the teachers had better awareness after the program.

Voice Needs and Voice Demands of Professional Newsreaders in Southern India

OBJECTIVES Newsreaders are elite vocal professionals who are highly dependent on their voice quality to meet professional commitments. Globally, the voice needs and demands of newsreaders could vary depending on technology and cultural variations. This study documents voice demands, voice needs, and vocal and nonvocal habits of professional newsreaders in Chennai, southern India through a questionnaire-based interview. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, case-control study design. METHODS Forty-seven professional newsreaders and 47 non-newsreaders participated in the questionnaire-based interview that elicited information relevant to their profession and voice use. RESULTS Majority of the newsreaders were not formally trained for newsreading. A significantly larger percentage of female newsreaders felt their jobs to be vocally demanding. Most newsreaders also had other full-time jobs that required a lot of speaking. Ninety-four percent of newsreaders consciously altered their voices while rendering news, and majority of them reported their voices to have changed considerably since they began newsreading. When compared with non-newsreaders, a significantly larger number of newsreaders were aware of voice problems, and many experienced some type of vocal technical difficulties. Seventy-seven percent of newsreaders took active measures to conserve their voice as opposed to non-newsreaders. Majority reported that sitting upright and erect while reading news helped produce the best vocal output for newsreading. CONCLUSIONS The findings on voice needs and vocal and nonvocal habits among newsreaders in Chennai, India, provide valuable first-time information from this part of the world. These have potential application for voice professionals, voice trainers, and prospective aspirant newsreaders in developing strategies for voice care and in preventing voice problems.

Effects of steam inhalation on voice quality-related acoustic measures

To investigate the effects of steam inhalation using a facial steamer on voice quality‐related acoustic measures.

Voice characteristics of elderly college teachers: A pilot study

Background: Rise in the age of retirement for teachers has created opportunities to continue in the profession even after 60 years of age. Elderly teachers will be more prone to developing voice problems due to their continuing teaching assignments, and age-related changes in larynx. Aim: To profile the voice characteristics of elderly teachers through comprehensive voice assessment. Design: Cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: Stroboscopic, perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, and self percept features of voice in 20 elderly teachers were assessed using the Sri Ramachandra voice assessment protocol. Statistical Analysis: Differences between genders were calculated using independent t-test. Inter-judge reliability for perceptual analysis was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: Stroboscopy revealed sarcopenic changes of vocal muscles, such as discoloration of vocal folds, incomplete closure, and reduced mucosal waves. On GRBAS scale, the subjects were rated as predominantly breathy, asthenic, and strained. Subjects showed reduced Maximum Phonation Time (11-13 seconds) and increased s/z ratio (1.21 in males and 1.19 in females). Mean F0 was 121 Hz (males) and 172 Hz (females). Mean I 0 range [28.4 dB (A) in males and 24.2 dB (A) in females] was reduced and shimmer (5.80% in males and 4.84% in females) values were increased. Dysphonia Severity Index revealed mild to moderate deviation (0.07 in males and 0.16 in females). However, on self evaluation of voice through Voice Disorder Outcome Profile, scores revealed certain physical changes with less or no obvious functional limitation. Conclusion: This study documents the trends in voice-related changes in elderly teachers. This information may be crucial for voice professionals to advice elderly teachers and management to advocate good vocal health.

Auditory brainstem response in very preterm, moderately preterm and late preterm infants

BACKGROUND Auditory brainstem response across preterm infants help in understanding difference if any in auditory maturation. OBJECTIVE To analyze and compare absolute and interpeak latencies of ABR in very preterm, moderate preterm and late preterm infants at term age. METHOD ABR traces were obtained from 148 ears of preterm infants (52 of very preterm, 44 of moderately preterm & 52 of late preterm) at term age. ABR was recorded with 11.1/s clicks at different intensity levels. RESULTS Absolute latencies of peak I, III, V and interpeak latencies of peak I-V, I-III and III-V were analyzed and compared between three preterm groups. One way ANOVA was used to compare ABR parameters between three groups of preterm infants and also to compare ABR parameters across various gestation ages. There were no overall differences in absolute latencies, interpeak latencies and amplitude of ABR between preterm groups and across various gestation ages (P>0.05). Pearson correlation was used to find the correlation between gestation age and ABR parameters. However, no correlation was found. ABRs were similar among preterm groups at term age which reflects that the brainstem maturation is similar among preterm groups. CONCLUSION Gestational age at birth does not seem to influence absolute and interpeak latencies of ABR at term age. In preterm neonates, the findings lead to suggest that maturation of auditory pathway occurs in a similar manner in preterm infants regardless of gestational age at birth. We conclude that preterm birth alone as a risk factor does not appear to have any marked effect on the development of ABR at term age.

Assessment of Communication in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in South India: Influence of Environment

Assessment of communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging in an unfamiliar clinical environment due to their limited verbal output and inadequate motivation to communicate. To analyze whether the communication sample recorded at clinic represents the child’s competence and performance, this study compared caregiver–child interaction in 24 to 48 months old children with ASD (n = 10, M = 38.2 months) at clinic and home. The 30-minute caregiver–child interaction at clinic and home was video recorded and analyzed for frequency of pragmatic acts (initiations and responses) and duration of joint engagement. Results indicated that children initiated and responded more at home than at clinic, whereas caregivers initiated and responded more at clinic. The study provides evidence that communication profile of children with ASD in multiple environments needs to be considered for obtaining representative and reliable communication sample for child-centered assessment and intervention.