title: Comparison of Voice Handicap Index Scores Between Female Students of Speech Therapy and Other Health Professions.
abstract: Students' groups (eg, teachers, speech language pathologists) are presumably at risk of developing a voice disorder due to misuse of their voice, which will affect their way of living. Multidisciplinary voice assessment of student populations is currently spread widely along with the use of self-reported questionnaires. This study compared the Voice Handicap Index domains and item scores between female students of speech and language therapy and of other health professions in Greece. We also examined the probability of speech language therapy students developing any vocal symptom. Two hundred female non-dysphonic students (aged 18-31) were recruited. Participants answered the Voice Evaluation Form and the Greek adaptation of the Voice Handicap Index. Significant differences were observed between the two groups (students of speech therapy and other health professions) through Voice Handicap Index (total score, functional and physical domains), excluding the emotional domain. Furthermore, significant differences for specific Voice Handicap Index items, between subgroups, were observed. In conclusion, speech language therapy students had higher Voice Handicap Index scores, which probably could be an indicator for avoiding profession-related dysphonia at a later stage. Also, Voice Handicap Index could be at a first glance an assessment tool for the recognition of potential voice disorder development in students. In turn, the results could be used for indirect therapy approaches, such as providing methods for maintaining vocal health in different student populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: d.tafiadis@ioa.teiep.gr.
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tafiadis
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Arta, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chronopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siafaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drosos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelia I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Kosma
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Eugenia I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Toki
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Nausica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziavra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health professions; Self-perceived analysis; Speech therapy; Students; Voice Handicap Index