Summary
Objective
To develop educational modules to improve vocal wellness and optimize communication
in mask-wearing occupational voice users.
Methods
Module development focused on identifying accurate, understandable, and actionable
steps to improve vocal wellness in the workplace. We i) interviewed eight voice-specialized
speech-language pathologists and researchers on current speech and voice recommendations
for mask-wearers, ii) developed educational content using the standardized Patient
Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), iii) assessed the ability of nine mask-wearing
community members to learn educational content, and iv) compared behavioral, acoustical,
and perceptual changes in four mask-wearing healthcare professionals following educational
training.
Results
We created three educational modules that described key vocal health and communication
strategies, including microphone amplification, postural alignment, clear speech,
hydration, vocal naps, and vocal warm-ups. PEMAT scores were 96% and 93% on understandability
and actionability, respectively. Mask-wearing healthcare professionals increased use
of 4 out of the 6 strategies following educational training and were able to retain
information at rates >90% at 1-week follow-up.
Conclusions
We developed a set of free-to-use educational modules to promote vocal wellness among
mask-wearing occupational voice users (see VSMechLab.com). Future work should examine
the impact of these strategies on voice measures in a larger group of mask-wearing
community members.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 27, 2021
Accepted:
November 18,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Presentations: 50th Annual Voice Foundation Symposium, June 2021
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Funding: The project was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, under Award Number 2UL1TR001425-05A1.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
