Vocal fatigue and voice-related quality of life in Korean speech-language pathologists

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vocal fatigue, voice-related quality of life, and their related factors in Korean speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for the improvement of voice health. Methods: A total of 137 SLPs (male 20, female 117) responded to an online or offline survey and then the data were analyzed. The respondents worked 20 sessions per week. Seventy-nine of the participants were in their 20s, 46 in their 30s, and 12 in their 40s and above. Results: SLPs who had subjective problems showed significantly higher K-VQOL-physical functional, K-VQOL-social-emotional, K-VQOL total, K-VFI-fatigue, K-VFI-physical, K-VFI-rest, and K-VFI-total (p=.001). Additionally, K-VQOL and K-VFI based on workplace, sessions per week, and career were not significantly different. There was a significant correlation (p=.000) between subjective voice symptoms, voice abuse and misuse, voice fatigue index and voice-related quality of life. The type of workplace where the highest percentage of SLPs worked for over 40 sessions was the hospital (10.9%). Conclusion: To reduce vocal fatigue and to improve voice-related quality of life of SLPs, vocal abuse and misuse that may affect voice problems should be eliminated and also self voice care need to be implemented in their daily life. These findings may help SLPs improve not only voice health but also overall life satisfaction and job satisfaction. 2018 Korean Academy of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.