Listening to Video Game Voices: A Call for Action for Research into the Vocal Health of Video Game Voice Actors.

Video game voice actors (VGVAs) are a professional voice user (PVU) population whose occupation relies on their ability to reliably deliver extremes in vocal performance. In their work VGVAs are required to perform solo for extended durations, producing highly complex character performances that not only include extremes of vocal parameters and qualities but also highly demanding vocal acts (ie, screaming, singing) within those voice archetypes. Based on the vocal demands of their work and current understandings of occupational voice disorder, it is reasonable to consider that VGVAs may be at increased risk of vocal fatigue, injury, and disorder, as manifestations of occupational disease. This risk is of primary concern to VGVAs who recently organized industrial action to highlight their concerns regarding vocal health within their industry. As a group that is not well represented within voice research, there is little literature currently available to inform clinical support of the population. Due to the unique nature of VGVA work and the highly specific nature of occupational voice use among PVUs, we cannot necessarily generalize research from other populations to VGVAs. As such, research utilising frameworks designed to capture the complexity of voice use, demands on the voice, and experiences of its use are required to support the concerns of the population. This paper introduces VGVAs as an emerging PVU population, describes the concerns of this population within the context of current understandings of vocal fatigue, occupational voice problems and PVU populations, and details the approaches required in the development of research into the population.

Treatment Outcome Measures for Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to identify instruments used to evaluate treatment outcomes for people with spasmodic dysphonia. METHODS: Electronic database (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL) searches and hand-searching identified studies that evaluated treatment approaches for spasmodic dysphonia which included pre and post outcome data. RESULTS: A total of 4714 articles were retrieved from searching databases; 1165 were duplicates. Titles and abstracts of 3549 were screened, with 171 being selected for full-text review. During full-text review, 101 articles were deemed suitable for inclusion. An additional 24 articles were identified as suitable for inclusion through hand-searching of reference lists. Data was extracted from 125 studies, identifying 220 outcome measures. As per the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning (ICF), the majority measured body functions (n = 212, 96%). Outcomes that explored communication and participation in everyday life and attitudes towards communication (ie, activity and participation domains) were infrequent (n = 8; 4%). Quality of life, a paradigm outside of the scope of the ICF, was also captured by four outcome measures. No instruments evaluating communication partners' perspectives were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Currently there is no unified approach to the measurement of outcomes in SD treatment research. Development and implementation of a core outcome set is recommended to facilitate improved understanding of the efficacy of current and new treatment options.

RETRACTED: Outcome Measurement in the Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the authors. Sections of the text and ideas contained within the introduction and discussion of this article were taken without appropriate attribution from a doctoral thesis published by Sarah Wallace, PhD at https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:415571. The findings presented in this systematic review remain accurate as published.

Keeping the Voice Fit in the Group Fitness Industry: A Qualitative Study to Determine What Instructors Want in a Voice Education Program.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide a descriptive summary of (1) group fitness instructors' (GFIs') experiences of occupational voice use and education, and (2) the content and mode of delivery desired by GFIs in an education and training program. STUDY DESIGN: This is a qualitative inductive approach using a semi-structured interview. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight GFIs recruited via self-selection sampling. Participants were asked to comment on their experiences of voice use, voice education, and their preferences for future education and training. RESULT: Participants reported experiencing occupational voice difficulties, and cited inadequate voice education, faulty equipment, and apathetic fitness industry attitudes as core barriers to vocal health. Content focusing on vocal hygiene, safe occupational voice use, use of amplification equipment, and addressing industry attitudes to voice was desired by participants. A combination of face-to-face, web-based, and app-based delivery options was suggested. CONCLUSION: The data from this study should be considered when designing a vocal education and training package tailored to the needs of GFIs and the fitness industry.