Vocal Hygiene Awareness Among Professional Speech and Language Therapists

Abstract

Background: Voice health is crucial, particularly for professionals who rely heavily on their voices, such as speech therapists. Speech therapists frequently use their voices to demonstrate proper articulation, often requiring repeated loud vocalizations to clarify the articulatory mechanism. This practice can lead to vocal strain and disorders if not managed properly.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of vocal hygiene among professional speech therapists. It aimed to evaluate their vocal habits, dietary patterns, and voice usage to identify practices that could prevent excessive voice drainage and subsequent vocal disorders and complications.

Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire comprising 25 yes/no questions was developed to gauge vocal hygiene awareness. The survey addressed various aspects such as voice usage, session conduct, and dietary patterns. Data collection was conducted through an online survey targeting 100 female speech therapists. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS to calculate frequencies and percentages of the responses.

Results: The study revealed significant awareness among participants regarding maintaining good vocal hygiene habits:34% of participants also worked as teachers,70% of therapists stopped speaking when their voices were tired, 79% of participants maintained proper hydration.

57% were willing to consult a voice therapist or physician., 58% avoided taking sessions when they were sick.74% preferred to consume tea/coffee often.65% avoided shouting to intensify oral structures for speech clarity.69% understood that voice problems could worsen if untreated.71% noticed a change in their voices after working for some time in the field.

Conclusion: The study concluded that while a significant number of speech therapists are aware of good vocal hygiene practices and the importance of proper voice usage and dietary habits, there remains a gap in consistently applying these practices. Many therapists recognize the potential for voice problems to worsen if neglected and are willing to seek professional advice, yet they do not always follow routines that could help avoid vocal issues.

Keywords: vocal hygiene, speech therapists, voice disorders, vocal habits, dietary patterns, vocal strain, vocal health, speech therapy, vocal awareness, voice management