D’haeseleer, EvelienBehlau, MaraBruneel, LauraMeerschman, IrisLuyten, AnkeLambrecht, StienCassol, MauriceiaCorthals, PaulKryshtopava, MarynaWuyts, Floris L.Claeys, SofieVan Lierde, K.M. (Kristiane)2017-03-242017-03-242016-11D'haeseleer, E, Behlau, M, Bruneel, L, Meerschman, I, Luyten, A, Lambrecht, S, Cassol, M, Corthals, P, Kryshtopava, M, Wuyts, FL, Claeys, S & Van Lierde, K 2016, 'Factors involved in vocal fatigue : a pilot study', Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 112-118.1021-7762 (print)1421-9972 (online)10.1159/000452127http://hdl.handle.net/2263/59522OBJECTIVE : The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the vocal characteristics of a treatment-seeking population with the primary complaint of vocal fatigue (VF). METHODS : Forty-three men (mean age 42 years, range 19-69) and 145 women (mean age 34 years, range 18-68) were included. None of the subjects had received voice therapy or previous laryngeal surgery. A questionnaire, laryngeal and perceptual evaluations, aerodynamic and acoustic parameters, and the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) were used to determine vocal characteristics. RESULTS : In 74% of the subjects, flexible laryngeal videostroboscopic evaluation revealed a vocal pathology, with vocal nodules and muscle tension dysphonia as the most frequently diagnosed pathologies. Vocal abuse/misuse was present in 65% of the subjects. A median DSI value of -0.4 and -0.8 was found in female and male patients, respectively. Aerodynamic and acoustic parameters and DSI scores were significantly different from normative data. CONCLUSION : VF is a vocal sign with a significant need for medical consultation, especially in future professional voice users. Understanding the occurrence and the influencing variables of VF may help to close the gap between early stages of a vocal problem and the starting point of a well-established disorder.en© 2016 S. Karger AG, BaselVoice disordersLaryngeal evaluationVocal fatigue (VF)Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI)Postprint Article