ABSTRACT
Purpose
to investigate the influence of self-reported shyness on the noticed vocal handicap, according to the presence or absence of a vocal complaint, in professional voice users.
Methods
two hundred and eight professional voice users (mean age 36 years), among them: singers, actors, lawyers, announcers, newscasters, speakers, teachers and salespeople, with or without vocal complaint, answered an online questionnaire, which had a personal identification card, the Vocal Handicap Index - VHI-10, and the Shyness Scale.
Results
of the 208 voice professionals, 28% presented vocal handicap, which about 60% of that are shy; more than 70% had no vocal handicap, and of these, only 26% were shy. From that, it is concluded that shy professional voice users failed more in VHI-10 than non-shy. Among professional voice users who presented vocal handicap, 66% had vocal complaints, while 34% did not complain. Of the participants with vocal handicaps and complaints, 54% were shy and 46% were not shy, with no statistical difference between these two groups. Among those with a vocal handicap, however without vocal complaints, 70% were shy and 30% were not shy, having a statistical difference between them.
Conclusion
shyness may be a confounding factor for the perception of vocal handicap, which shows that professional voice users may fail in a self-reported voice assessment test because of shyness rather than a voice disorder itself.
Keywords:
Voice; Shyness; Communication; Dysphonia; Voice quality; Self evaluation
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