VOICE AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Ano: 2013 | Volume: 17 | Número: Suplemento

Autores: Pereira ERBN, Tavarez EL, Martins RHG.

Resumo Inglês:

INTRODUCTION: Voice is fundamental for communication and it is able to influence the quality of life of individuals in society and in their professional life. Goal: To evaluate the degree that dysphasia affects an individual's quality of life. METHODS: During the International Voice Campaign Day, which was held in the Centro de Saúde Escola (Botucatu-SP, Brazil) on April 12, 2013, attendees answered a questionnaire on life and voice quality (QVV). There were 122 individuals at the Campaign, but only 87 of them answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: The analyses of the questionnaires from the 87 attendees (31% male; 56% female) indicated that the attendees did not have difficulties when speaking or in being heard in noisy places. The female respondents (60%) took a larger number of breaths when speaking. The males (16%) and the females (42%) expressed concerns when initiating speech because they did not know how their voice would sound after they started talking. In 35 patients, the females showed frustration, anxiety, or became depressed because of the vocal alteration. In 60% of the patients, the females reported a greater struggle in using the phone. Most attendees had struggles at work because of their voice, but they did not avoid going out socially. The voice of both males and females did not affect any matter of communication. CONCLUSION: In general, vocal disturbance affects negatively the quality of life in women and men.