Vocal and auditory symptoms and self-perception of voice and hearing in voice actors

To trace suspected voice disorder based on vocal and auditory symptoms self-reported by voice actors and analyze the correlation between these symptoms.

Quantitative, cross-sectional and prospective study, approved by the institution's Research Ethics Committee. An online questionnaire was applied consisting of different instruments to trace vocal and auditory symptoms and conditions: Vocal Production of the Actor (VP-A), Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD) and Self-Reported Hearing Loss Questionnaire (SRHLQ). Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted with the application of Fisher's Exact test to verify the association between suspected voice disorder (VD) and perceived hearing loss (HL) and variables of interest; and the Mantel-Haenszel test (p<0.05) was applied to measure the association between two variables controlled by a third variable.

55 voice actors (27 men, 26 women and 1 non-binary person) composed the sample. An association between suspected VD with work habits, setting and organization and use of vocal technique was noted; self-perception of hearing and perception of HL was associated with habits and perceptions about the voice. Seven voice actors (12.7%) presented suspected VD and 31 (56.4%) presented perceived HL. The most common vocal symptom was throat clearing. Most of those with perceived HL (14, 25.5%) were aged up to 35 years.

Self-perceived HL affected most participants and suspected VD was less frequent. There was an association between suspected VD and vocal symptoms and also with hearing.