Potential Biophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Vocal Demands and Vocal Fatigue

Patients with complaint of vocal fatigue have perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic outcomes that are heterogeneous in nature. One reason may be due to different underlying biophysiological mechanisms that lead to these heterogeneous clinical presentations. Five potential mechanisms are proposed: neuromuscular, metabolic, vocal tissue, afferent, and central neural. Analytical frameworks and study designs to study these mechanisms are also addressed. A better understanding of biophysiological mechanisms of vocal fatigue can improve precision of therapeutic approaches. It can also help shift management from symptom-based to etiology-focused approaches for vocal fatigue.