• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2011

Studies on the risk factors of voice disorders in Korean adults are rare. I evaluated the association between the duration of self-reported voice problem and voice disorders in Korean adults. Data were from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Subjects were 3,135 people (1,310 men and 1,825 women) aged 19 years and older. Multi-nominal logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between the duration of self-reported voice problem and voice disorders. The prevalence of self-reported voice problems was 5.9% among Korean adults. Adjusting for covariates (age, sex, education level, length of employment, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, thyroid disorders, pain and discomfort during the last two weeks), self-reported voice problems lasting longer than three weeks were independently associated with functional voice disorders (OR=5.30, 95% CI: 3.30-8.50) and organic voice disorders (OR=4.84, 95% CI: 1.82-12.89). Self-reported voice problems in the past three weeks were significantly associated with functional voice disorders (OR=3.64, 95% CI: 1.84-7.19), but not significantly associated with organic voice disorders. Self-reported voice problems are prevalent among adults. This study highlights that self-perception of a voice problem for more than three weeks is related to functional voice disorders and organic voice disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between self-reported voice problems and voice disorders in the Korean adult population. Data were collected from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2008) from 3,135 subjects (1,310 men and 1,825 women) aged 19 years and older. Multi-nominal logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between self-reported voice problems and voice disorders in the Korean adult population. Adjusting for covariates (age, sex, education level, job, smoking, alcohol drinking, thyroid disorders, pain and discomfort during the last 2 weeks), self-reported voice problems included independently associated functional voice disorders (OR=4.70, 95% CI: 3.14-7.03) and organic voice disorders (OR=3.89, 95% CI: 1.57-9.65). The results of the present study verified that self-reported voice problems are valuable indicators for voice disorders. Further research is needed to ascertain the effect of self-reported voice problems on voice disorder in adults.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.67-76
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare professional (Pro) and non-professional (Non-pro) voice users with voice disorders in self-reporting voice evaluation using Korean-Voice Handicap Index (K-VHI) and Korean-Voice Related Quality of Life (K-VRQOL). In addition, those were compared by voice quality and voice disorder type. 94 Pro and 106 Non-pro were asked to fill out the K-VHI and K-VRQOL, perceptually evaluated on GRBAS scales, and divided into three types of voice disorders (functional, organic and neurologic) by an experienced speech-language pathologist and an otolaryngologist. The results showed that the functional (F) and physical (P) scores of K-VHI in Pro group were significantly higher than those in Non-pro group. As the voice quality evaluated by G scale got worse, the scores of all aspects except emotional (E) of K-VHI and social-emotional (SE) of K-VRQOL were higher. All scores of K-VHI and K-VRQOL in neurologic voice disorders were significantly higher than those in functional and organic voice disorders. In conclusion, professional voice users are more sensitive to their functional and physical handicap resulted by their voice problems and that goes double for the patients with severe and neurologic voice disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of voice disorders and the Korean voice handicap index in the elderly. For this study, 169 elderly performed two types of questionnaires and vowel /a/ prolongation. Self-reported voice symptoms and the Korean voice handicap index were analyzed and acoustic voice evaluation was performed by MDVP. The results showed that the prevalence of voice disorders in the elderly are significantly higher than that of adults in self-reports. In acoustic evaluation, 32.2% of the male elderly and 40.9% of the female elderly exceeded the thresholds of Jitter (%), Shimmer (%) and NHR. In addition, Korean voice handicap index scores of the female elderly are significantly higher than those of female adults. These findings indicate the high frequency of voice disorders in the elderly and the need to focus on this group. Additional studies on the voice related quality of life for the elderly are needed.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Voice disorders are most common in female teachers due to work-related vocal demands; however, only a few studies tried to evaluate individual risk factors with work-related risk factors to diagnose voice disorders. This study evaluated sixty-seven female elementary teachers (36 with voice disorders and 31 without voice disorders) to compare their vocal misuse, overuse, and vocal hygiene behaviors. Total Voice Handicap Index scores and VHI subscale (P, E, F) scores were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05) and there was no relationship between VHI and acoustic measures (p>0.05). Loud talking, talking in noisy situations, and excessive speaking were significantly more frequent in female teachers with voice disorders (p<0.05) and thereby these overuse and misuse behavioral patterns were identified as risk factors to develop voice disorders in female teachers. Also, hydration was the most common behavior for vocal hygiene when experiencing vocal fatigue; however, hydration with hot green tea or coffee and throat clearing were often misused for vocal hygiene. This study found that female teachers from both groups presented higher voice handicap regardless of voice disorders. This study suggests a multidimensional voice assessment protocol is required to reflect voice problems in teachers and a vocal education program may be important to improve vocal hygiene knowledge and behavioral changes in female teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Quality of life(QOL) is a construct representing physical, mental and social well-being. QOL has been used as a device for measuring the severity of health-related condition and treatment outcomes. As the social welfare system develops, the attention to QOL increases as well. The aims of this study was to examine whether the patients with voice disorder perceived significantly more the effects of voice disorder on QOL than nonpatient group did and if any, identify the sociodemographic risk factors influencing QOL of patients. Materials and Methods : This study asked 113 adults with voice disorders who were enrolled in Voice Clinic in the Department of Otolaryngology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between lune 1998 and January 1999 and 111 nonpatients to complete a questionnaire designed to elicit information about the effete of voice disorders on quality of lift. The questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographic areas, voice symptoms, job, effects of voice disorders on QOL domains(work, social, psychological, physical, and communication areas), potential risk factors to exposures, familial and medical history of voice disorders. Results : The sociodemographic characteristics of the patient group are as follows : (1) 75.2% of total patient group were female and the rest were male. (2) Age of total patient group ranged from 20 to 65 years. Hoarseness was the most commonly reported complaints, followed by complaints of high note difficulties during singing and voice fatigue. The patient group perceived effects of voice disorders on the areas of work, social, psychological, physical and communication more adversely than the comparison group did (p＜0.05). QOL impairments were evaluated as a function of age, gender, education, and income, controlling other independent effects. The results were that (1) age was significantly associated with work problems and (2) gender and income were significantly associated with psychological problems. Conclusions : The findings indicated that the patients with voice disorders would perceive markedly adverse effect on all QOL domains, that is, work, social, psychological, physical, communicational areas. Therefore, the results of study suggest that lurker investigations about the nature of voice disorders, the prevention, treatment, and coping strategies are needed in the future.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2012

This paper will discuss the difference between self assessment of voice disorders and the hearer voice assessment of a comparative group of normal subjects. The study was conducted on 25 voice disorder subjects and 32 hearers of a comparative group of normal subjects. The results are as follows. Firstly, in K-VHI and VHI-H, the hearers of the comparative group of normal subjects perceived more serious voice disorders than the voice disorder group in all sub-domains. Likewise, in K-VQOL and VRQOL-H, the hearers of the comparative group of normal subjects perceived more serious voice disorders than the voice disorder group in all sub-domains. Secondly, the hearer voice assessment of the comparative group of normal subjects showed no difference in gender regarding the perception of the severity of voice disorder issues. Thirdly, the hearer voice assessment of the comparative group of normal subjects states that in the emotional aspects of VHI-H, professional voice users perceive more serious voice disorders than others. Accordingly, in VRQOL-H, there was no difference in use of the voice between professionals and others.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.111-125
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• 2007

It is important to examine patients' subjective evaluation as well as objective measures and clinician's rating to assess voice disorders. This study aimed to evaluate validity and reliability of Korean-version of Voice Handicap Index (KVHI) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (KVQOL) with 113 adults with voice disorders and 111 normal adults. Content validity was verified by three experienced speech-language pathologists. Concurrent validity was revealed by examining the correlation among KVHI, KVQOL, and Voice Rating Scale as well as item discrimination coefficients. Total scores of KVHI and KVQOL of adults with voice disorders were significantly different from those of normal adults. Test-retest reliability and internal consistencies were significantly high in both KVHI and KVQOL. Correlations among scores of each subscale and total score were also significantly high in each tool. The study revealed that KVHI and KVQOL are suitable tools to be used in clinics and research areas in Korea, which can subjectively evaluate the effects of voice disorders on daily life as well as on quality of life.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

The objectives of this study are to research the frequency of depression symptom in patients with voice disorders and to investigate parameters associated with depression from voice evaluation. A hundred ninety six patients(106 males and 90 females) who had been diagnosed with voice disorders first in their lifetime were selected. All the patients were examined by laryngeal stroboscopy. For depression and voice study, personal interview, acoustic and aerodynamic analysis, voice handicap index(VHI), reflux symptom index(RSI), and beck depression index(BDI) were done respectively. Mild to severe BDI were seen in 26.2%(52 patients) of the whole patients. A BDI mean score of female patients was $8.8{\pm}7.5$ which was higher than that of male patients($5.6{\pm}6.6$), the difference observed being statistically significant(p<0.001). In the acoustic analysis, the score of sent_duration parameter was increasing in the patients with depression, which was significantly higher than the score of the patients without depression(p<0.05). In the addition, the scores of VHI and RSI were higher in the patients with depression(p<0.001). Our findings suggest that the prevalence of depression in patients with voice disorders is related to female, speaking velocity, and self-questionnaire. This result can be used for psychologically based approach to therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Voice therapy has been used as a viable adjuvant to surgery and pharmacological therapy fir the management of voice disorders. The singing voice features a special brand of emotion, intensity, and energy so successful therapeutical approach requires the doctor is able to involve himself into the physical and psychic condition and artistic usage of the voice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and utility of singing therapy as an initial treatment for classically trained singers with voice disorders. Material and method : Twenty-one male and fifty-five female classic singers with voice disorders were treated with singing therapy. At first, abdominal breathing, resonant phonation, and relaxation method was trained, then after accessing each patient's singing abilities, treatment methods for each specific problems was applied. The results were compared according to age, sex, treatment duration, part, laryngeal pathology, patient subjective evaluation, perceptual evaluation of voice, and maximal phonation time. Results : Patients subjective evaluation, perceptual evaluation, pathologic findings of larynx, maximal phonation time showed superior results after singing therapy. Conclusion : Singing therapy changes the mode of respiration and phonation and enhances the vocal function and improves the laryngeal pathology, The result of this study indicate that singing therapy is an effective treatment method that laryngologists can use for classical singers with voice disorders.