[Applicability of voice acoustic analysis with vocal loading testto diagnostics of occupational voice diseases].
BACKGROUND
An assessment of the vocal system, as a part of the medical certification of occupational diseases, should be objective and reliable. Therefore, interest in the method of acoustic voice analysis enabling objective assessment of voice parameters is still growing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of acoustic analysis with vocal loading test to the diagnostics of occupational voice disorders.


METHODS
The results of acoustic voice analysis were compared using IRIS software for phoniatrics, before and after a 30-min vocal loading test in 35 female teachers with diagnosed occupational voice disorders (group I) and in 31 female teachers with functional dysphonia (group II).


RESULTS
In group I, vocal effort produced significant abnormalities in voice acoustic parameters, compared to group II. These included significantly increased mean fundamental frequency (Fo) value (by 11 Hz) and worsened jitter, shimmer and NHR parameters. Also, the percentage of subjects showing abnormalities in voice acoustic analysis was higher in this group.


CONCLUSIONS
Conducting voice acoustic analysis before and after the vocal loading test makes it possible to objectively confirm irreversible voice impairments in persons with work-related pathologies of the larynx, which is essential for medical certification of occupational voice diseases.
Niebudek-Bogusz
Ewa
E
Klinika Audiologii i Foniatrii, Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Lódź. ebogusz@imp.lodz.pl
Sliwińska-Kowalska
Mariola
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014833:Voice Quality