Tracking perceived vocal function patterns with heavy occupational voice use across time

Occupational voice users rely on vocal stability and endurance to meet job expectations yet vocal fatigue is a common occurrence. This can lead to maladaptive vocalisation patterns increasing risk of vocal injury and/or potentially leading to loss of work days with associated psychological, financial and societal burden. There is an obvious occupational health need for Identification of thresholds for risk of cumulative vocal fatigue to prevent or mitigate vocal injury. This study proposes the use of a newly developed scale for self-assessment of speaking voice function with heavy occupational voice users (such as teachers) to determine critical cutpoints.