title: Vocal symptoms and allergy--a pilot study.
abstract: Allergic rhinitis and asthma are common among university students. Inhalant allergies have been considered to be a risk factor contributing to voice disorders. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if students with confirmed respiratory allergies have frequently occurring vocal symptoms. A questionnaire concerning the prevalence of vocal symptoms was distributed to 49 students attending a 3-year allergen immunotherapy program and to 54 students without known allergy. The results indicated that subjects with allergy report significantly more vocal symptoms than subjects without allergy. Allergy should be considered as an underlying factor for vocal symptoms, especially for persons who work in or study for vocally demanding occupations.
authors.affiliation: Abo Akademi University, Logopedics, Abo, Finland. susanna.simberg@abo.fi
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simberg
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomainen
authors.forename: Anna-Maija
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rönnemaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014831:Voice; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult