Laryngoscopic Examination During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turkish Voice Speech and Swallowing Disorders Society and Turkish Professional Voice Society Recommendations

COVID-19 is highly transmissible and spreads rapidly in the population. This increases the occupational risk for health care workers. In otolaryngology clinic practice, patients with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms are common. Also, routine head and neck examinations such as oral cavity examination, nasal/nasopharyngeal examination, or video laryngostroboscopic evaluation are highly risky because of the aerosol formation. To emphasize this issue, two leading otolaryngology organizations in Turkey; 'Voice Speech and Swallowing Disorders Society', and 'Professional Voice Society' gathered a task force. This task force aimed to prepare a consensus report that would provide practical recommendations of the safety measurements during routine clinical care of laryngology patients. To fulfill this, universal aim, on the 2nd and 9th of May 2020, two web-based meetings were conducted by 20 expert physicians. This eighteen items list was prepared as an output

Ses handikap endeksi (voice handicap index) Türkçe versiyonunun güvenilirliği ve geçerliliği

Objectives: We investigated the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and developed a short VHI form that would be more practical. Patients and Methods: the original VHI was translated to Turkish by 10 otolaryngologists, then it was translated back to English by a linguist, and the final text was prepared by the evaluation committee composed of three members. the translated version was administered to a group of 220 subjects twice with 7-14 days intervals. Based on the responses, statistical analyses were performed to assess its reliability and validity. Results: Internal consistency reliability was found to be highly significant (Cronbach‘s alpha=0.97). Test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.93 for the total score. the factor analysis yielded three factors explaining 64.8% of the total variance. the corrected item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 to 0.80. the 10 most robust VHI items, namely, E7, E9, P10, F11, F12, E15, F16, P18, P20 and E29, were selected using the corrected itemtotal correlation coefficients, and a shortened form of the Turkish VHI was developed. Conclusion: As some items are thought to be contentious in the Turkish VHI, the short form of the Turkish VHI is more suitable for use in clinics.Amaç: Ses Handikap Endeksi (SHE) Türkçe versiyonunun güvenilirliği ve geçerliliği araştırıldı, uygulama kolaylığı sağlayacak kısa bir SHE versiyonu geliştirildi. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Orijinal Voice Handicap Index 10 KBB uzmanı tarafından Türkçeye çevrildi, daha sonra bir dilbilimci tarafından İngilizceye geri çevrildi, son olarak üç kişiden oluşan değerlendirme komisyonu tarafından çeviri metnine son şekli verildi. Türkçeye çevrilen anket 220 denekten oluşan bir gruba 7-14 gün arayla iki kez uygulandı; deneklerin verdikleri yanıtlara göre güvenilirlik ve geçerlilik analizleri yapıldı. Bulgular: İç tutarlılık güvenilirliği ileri derecede anlamlı bulundu (Cronbach alfa=0.97). Test-tekrar test korelasyon katsayısı toplam skor için 0.93 bulundu. Faktör analizi sonucunda toplam varyansın %64.8’ini açıklayan üç faktör elde edildi. Düzeltilmiş maddetoplam korelasyon katsayıları 0.50-0.80 arasında değişiyordu. Düzeltilmiş madde-toplam korelasyon katsayılarına göre en güçlü 10 madde (E7, E9, Fi10, F11, F12, E15, F16, Fi18, Fi20 ve E29) seçilerek kısa versiyon SHE geliştirildi. Sonuç: Ses Handikap Endeksi Türkçe versiyonunda bazı maddelerin sorunlu olması nedeniyle, kliniklerde kısa versiyon Türkçe SHE’nin kullanılması daha uygundur

Determining Knowledge Level, Attitude, Behaviors Regarding Vocal Hygiene and Use of Medical Drugs and Herbal Medicinal Products for Vocal Health in Second Level Professional Voice Users

© 2022 The Voice FoundationObjectives: This study aims to determine the knowledge level, attitude, and behaviors regarding vocal hygiene and use of medical drugs and herbal medicinal products for vocal health in second level professional voice users. Methods: The study examined second level professional voice users comprised of amateur singers, religious officials, voice instructors and vocal coaches consisting of academicians working in conservatories and education faculties, music teachers, conservatory students majoring in opera or choir, students majoring in music education, and amateur actors who were reached via online platforms and were administered a 32-item questionnaire. Results: A total of 406 participants consisting of conservatory students (26.8%), religious officials (23.2%), academicians (9.1%), amateur or self-taught musicians (14.8%), conservatory graduates (8.6%), and music teachers affiliated with the Ministry of National Education were recruited for the study. It was determined that 78.8% of the participants knew the definition of vocal hygiene, and 60.6% made an effort to maintain vocal hygiene. 57.9% of the participants declared that they had at least one disease affecting their vocal health. According to our research data, 8.9% of the participants were using one or more prescription drugs or over-the-counter products daily to protect their vocal health. Lozenges, vitamins, and allergy medications constituted a large portion of these medicinal products. In total, 62.3% of participants used herbal products for vocal health in their daily life. Participants mostly consumed products containing linden, sage, ginger, chamomile, and turmeric. It was determined that more than 20 different herbal products containing plants in different mixtures and contents were used. Furthermore, 40% of the participants using herbal medicinal products consulted a health care professional. It was found that these products were mostly obtained from herbalists (79.5%), and the source of information regarding these products was quite diverse. The rate of experiencing side effects due to the use of herbal products was 2%. Conclusions: There is a lack of knowledge regarding vocal hygiene and its application on real-life behavior among second-level sound professionals. In particular, the awareness of vocal hygiene should be increased among religious officials. It was observed that the rate of use of herbal products to protect vocal health or to treat hoarseness was quite high. Further studies are needed to prove the benefits of these herbal and medicinal products on vocal health

Özgün Şan Sesi Handikap Endeksi ölçeğinin Türkçe versiyonunun geçerlik ve güvenirliği

Objectives: This study aims to constitute a valid and reliable Turkish version of the original Singing Voice Handicap Index.Materials and Methods: An authorized committee assessed the reliability and validity of the content, scope, and language of the original Singing Voice Handicap Index which underwent a back translation process. The Turkish version of the questionnaire was answered twice with a 7 to 10-day interval by two singing voice groups with or without singing voice problems. The reliability and validity analyses were performed based on these answers.Results: Of a total of 123 individuals (64 females, 59 males; mean age 26.2;plusmn;7.3 years), 81 were without a voice pathology and 42 were with a voice pathology. The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.917. The item-total correlations ranged between 0.51 and 0.89. The weighted kappa values of test-retest correlation values of the items were 0.82-0.91. The Cronbach's alpha values of two part of the questionnaire based on the split-half method were 0.89 and 0.84. The mean total scale scores were 21.8;plusmn;18.5 and 53.6;plusmn;28.9 in normal and pathology groups, respectively and there was a statistically significant difference in scores between these two groups (p;lt;0.001).Conclusion: The Turkish version of the Singing Voice Handicap Index is a valid and reliable scale which can be used in the evaluation of voice problems of Turkish-speaking singing voice users.Amaç: Bu çalışmada özgün Şan Sesi Handikap Endeksi'nin geçerli ve güvenilir bir Türkçe versiyonunu hazırlandı.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Geri çeviri işlemine tabi tutulan özgün Şan Sesi Handikap Endeksi'nin güvenirlik ve geçerliği yetkili bir kurul tarafından içerik, kapsam ve dil açısından değerlendirildi. Anketin Türkçe versiyonu, şan sesi sorunu olan ve olmayan iki grup şancı tarafından 7 ila 10 gün ara ile iki kez yanıtlandı. Bu yanıtlara göre, güvenirlik ve geçerlik analizleri yapıldı.Bulgular: Toplam 123 kişinin (64 kadın, 59 erkek; ort. yaş 26.2±7.3 yıl) 81'inde ses patolojisi yoktu ve 42'sinde ses patolojisi vardı. Toplam Cronbach's alfa katsayısı 0.917 idi. Madde-toplam korelasyonları 0.51 ila 0.89 arasında saptandı. Maddelerin test-tekrar test korelasyonu ağırlıklı kappa değerleri 0.82-0.91 idi. Yarıya bölüm yönteminde anketin iki yarısı için Cronbach's alfa değerleri 0.89 ve 0.84 idi. Normal ve patolojik grupların ortalama toplam ölçek skoru sırasıyla 21.8±18.5 ve 53.6±28.9 idi ve bu iki grup arasında skorlar açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark vardı (p0.001).Sonuç: Şan Sesi Handikap Endeksi'nin Türkçe versiyonu, Türkçe konuşan şancıların ses sorunlarının değerlendirilmesinde kullanılabilecek geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçektir