Summary
Objectives
Changes in the auditory system, for example due to hearing impairment, can cause changes
in breathing, phonation, and articulation. Aim of this study was to provide first
data on subjective Voice Handicap and Vocal Tract Discomfort in subjects with hearing
impairment and cochlear implant (CI) after initial fitting.
Study design
Prospective cross-sectional study
Methods
A total of 111 participants (57 female and 54 male) between 20 and 85 years of age
(mean = 58.21, SD = 14.96) were recruited between October 2019 and March 2020 from
the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology at Medical University of Hannover. Participants
were tested after initial CI fitting, six weeks after implantation, using the German
version of the VTD (Vocal Tract Discomfort) Scale and VHI (9i) (Voice Handicap Index)
as well as speech comprehension tests and a specifically developed questionnaire evaluating
data concerning voice usage and other influential factors. Statistics included descriptive
analysis, group comparisons (t-Test), Pearson correlation coefficient between VTD
Scale and VHI, and hearing status.
Results
Patients with CI did show low scores in VTD Scale and VHI-9i (VTD mean = 7.85 [SD = 10.4];
VHI-9i mean = 4.04 [SD = 5.77]). We found neither a correlation between any of the
speech comprehension tests and the VTD Scale nor the VHI-9i. Further, we could show
no correlation between subjective Voice Handicap and/or Vocal Tract Discomfort and
age or the kind of treatment.
Conclusion
Patients included in this study did not show more subjective Voice Handicap or Vocal
Tract Discomfort than normal hearing peers. Scores of VTD Scale and VHI-9i did not
depend on the duration of hearing loss, speech comprehension, kind of treatment or
age.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 06, 2022
Accepted:
July 6,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
