"Prologues to a Bad Voice": Effect of Vocal Hygiene Knowledge and Training on Voice Quality Following Stage Performance.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of intensive stage rehearsal and performance on perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic measures of voice, and to determine the impact of knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene on measures of voice during intensive vocal performance.

METHODS: Nineteen stage actors who were participating in the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre festival took part in the study. Each participant completed auditory-perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, and quality of life measures before and after 1 month of intensive rehearsals and stage performances. They also completed a questionnaire documenting their vocal use, vocal hygiene, and previous vocal training, if any.

RESULTS: Subjects demonstrated statistically significant deterioration in auditory-perceptual measures and mean expiratory airflow. Other acoustic measures trended toward poorer outcomes after the performances; however, these were not statistically significant. Knowledge of vocal hygiene and vocal training did not have an impact on the change in vocal measures.

CONCLUSIONS: Stage performances do impact vocal outcomes with reduction in quality and efficient use of airflow for voice production. Knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene have some impact on these changes; however, vocal hygiene may not be the best preventive strategy of potential phonotrauma in this subject population.