Vocal load as measured by the voice accumulator

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Occupational voice disorders are common in Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) consultations.
• Assessing patients requires understanding both vocal capacity and vocal load.
• Discrepancies exist between patient-reported vocal demands and employer expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an objective method for measuring occupational vocal load.
• To provide precise documentation of vocal demands in various professions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a portable voice accumulator instrument.
• Recording total speaking time and sound levels over extended periods.
• Data analysis of voiced time (seconds) within a specific decibel range (60-112 dB(A)s) using a personal computer.

Main Results:

• The voice accumulator provides objective data on vocal load.
• Enables precise documentation of vocal demands in professional settings.
• Facilitates monitoring of vocal ability or disability.

Conclusions:

• Objective vocal load measurement is crucial for managing occupational voice disorders.
• The voice accumulator offers a valuable tool for audiological and occupational health assessments.
• This technology supports vocal rehabilitation by providing concrete data on vocal demands.