Voice Risk Calculator (VRC) — a risk assessment model for voice disorders

Elaine Mandy Ho and Edwin Yiu

The prevalence of voice disorder is estimated to be 3 — 9% in western countries (Verdolini & Ramig, 2001). Voice problems are not distributed randomly in the population, certain population groups are at higher risks of developing voice disorders. Current literature on voice disorders have suggested that voice problems are multi-factorial in pathogenesis (Deary, Wilson, Carding, & MacKenzie, 2003; Thomas, De Jong, Cremers, & Kooijman, 2006). Thus, the current paper proposed the adoption of the risk assessment based on the probabilistic approach for voice disorders. Such approach takes into account different conditions that would affect the voice status of a patient. Based on the identified risk indicators of voice disorders, specific methods and strategies for preventive, diagnostic and intervention programs can be developed to eliminate or reduce these conditions (Beck, 1990; Page & Beck, 1997).
A pilot study has been conducted for the development of the Voice Risk Calculator — a self-reported questionnaire that determines a set of most discriminating risk factors for voice problems. Such information would be useful in providing more efficient preventive vocal health care programs. Dysphonic and normal subjects participated in this study. The VRC provided information on vocal loading, physiological and psycho-emotional risk factors and they were correlated with the results of clinical examinations, which included aerodynamic, acoustic, perceptual, laryngo-stroboscopic measurements as well as subjects’ own perception of the impact of voice disorders on their quality of life.

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by a grant from the Committee on Research and Conference Grant (HKU7282104H), The University of Hong Kong; Small Project Research Fund (2005-06), The University of Hong Kong; and Sik Sik Yuen Education Research Fund (2005-06), The University of Hong Kong.

Elaine Mandy Ho, BSc., & Edwin Yiu, PhD.
The University of Hong Kong

Correspondence :
Elaine Mandy Ho, BSc.
Voice Research Laboratory
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The University of Hong Kong
5/F, Prince Philip Dental Hospital
34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2859 0572 Fax: (852) 2559 0060
Email: elainemho@yahoo.com.hk

Edwin Yiu, PhD
Voice Research Laboratory
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The University of Hong Kong
5/F, Prince Philip Dental Hospital
34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2859 0583 Fax: (852) 2559 0060
Email: eyiu@hku.hk

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Deary, I. J., Wilson, J. A., Carding, P., & MacKenzie, K. (2003). VoiSS: a patient-derived Voice Symptom Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 54, 483-489.
Page, R. C., & Beck, J. D. (1997). Risk assessment for periodontal disease. International Dental Journal, 47, 61-87.
Thomas, G., De Jong, F. I. C. R. S., Cremers, C. W. R. J., & Kooijman, P. G. C. (2006). Prevalence of voice complaints, risk factors and impact of voice problems in female student teachers. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, 58, 65-84.
Verdolini, K., & Ramig, L. R. (2001). Review: occupational risks for voice problems. Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Vocology, 26, 37-46.