title: Effects of vocal constitution and autonomic stress-related reactivity on vocal endurance in female student teachers.
abstract: Several studies revealed a high percentage of voice problems in future teachers. The influence of vocal constitution on the vocal endurance is, however, still unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether the increase of voice fundamental frequency (F0) during teaching is caused by (1) autonomic regulation patterns under stress, (2) anxiety as an emotional factor, or (3) limitations in voice constitution. Thirty-three subjects with either normal voice constitution (n = 15, group 1) or constitutional hypofunction (n = 18, group 2) assessed by voice range profile measurements were enrolled in this study. Furthermore, they underwent a standardized baseline test to register selected autonomic test parameters and were classified into autonomic outlet types (AOT) as proposed by Johannes et al. Later the subjects were examined during 1 hour of teaching (field study). The parameters tested included heart rate, pulse transition time, finger temperature, and voice fundamental frequency. To measure situational anxiety and general anxiety proneness, a state-trait anxiety inventory was taken. Eleven subjects per group were identified as autonomic stable (AOT 1), two per group as responding cardiovascularly (AOT 2), and two of group 1 and four of group 2, respectively, as having higher heart rate and higher blood pressure responses to stress (AOT 4). One subject had to be excluded because of missing data. However, statistical analyses showed no differences between AOT groups regarding the voice constitution groups. Increased fundamental frequencies of speaking voice after 30 and 45 minutes of teaching were found in group 2 (constitutional hypofunction). No effect of state or trait anxiety on voice endurance could be detected. Thus, the increase of fundamental frequency of voice has to be regarded as a consequence of vocal fatigue. A constitutionally weak voice seems to be a risk factor for developing a professional voice disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Phoniatrics-Logopedics, Vienna University Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Berit.Schneider@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enne
authors.forename: Mikis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecon
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diendorfer-Radner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wittels
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bigenzahn
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johannes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049489:Stroboscopy; D013334:Students; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality