Vocal Self-Perception of Home Office Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the self-perception of vocal fatigue symptoms and musculoskeletal pain in home office workers before and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 424 individuals participated in this cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study; they were stratified into the experimental group (EG), consisting of 235 individuals working from home office during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the control group (CG), with 189 individuals who continued to work in person during this period. All participants answered the vocal fatigue index and the musculoskeletal pain investigation questionnaires. The data were analyzed in a descriptive and inferential manner. RESULTS: Participants in the EG reported more vocal fatigue symptoms and musculoskeletal pain than those in the CG before the pandemic. However, during the pandemic, the EG presented a higher frequency of pain in the posterior of the neck, shoulder, upper back, and temporal and masseter muscles, while the CG presented a higher frequency of pain in the larynx. With regard to vocal fatigue, during the pandemic, EG had an increase in scores to factors such as tiredness and voice impairment, avoidance of voice use, and total scores. No such differences were noted in the CG. CONCLUSION: Workers who migrated to home offices during the COVID-19 pandemic are at risk of developing vocal disorders.

Influence of the characteristics of home office work on self-perceived vocal fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: To verify the influence of work characteristics and the occupational voice use on the self-perception of vocal fatigue symptoms in individuals working in the home office during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study. The sample consisted of 206 individuals (123 women and 83 men), with an average age of 34 years, working exclusively in a home office mode due to the pandemic. Through an online form, all participants responded to the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) protocol and the questionnaire on the characterization of work and the occupational voice use during the pandemic, developed by the authors of this study. Multiple linear regression using the backward elimination technique was performed. RESULTS: The variables the interlocutor does "not listen to me in home office work," "noise in the home office work environment," "the daily workload in home office," "vocal quality worsened in home office work," "increased vocal loudness in home office work" and "lack of training about voice use in home office work" are predictors of the dependent variable vocal fatigue symptoms. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of work and occupational voice use influence the self-perception of vocal fatigue symptoms in individuals working in the home office mode during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Empowerment in hearing rehabilitation: translation of self-advocacy checklists. / O empoderamento na reabilitação auditiva: tradução dos questionários de autoadvocacia.

PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt to Brazilian Portuguese four instruments for assessing self-advocacy skills of users of electronic hearing devices: the "I can" Self-Advocacy Checklist and three versions of the Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL). METHODS: The translation process was adapted from the guidelines of Beaton et al. (2000). The prefinal version was pre-tested in two groups. Group 1 (G1) was composed of 14 teachers of adolescents with hearing loss. Group 2 (G2) was composed of 15 adolescent patients with hearing loss, electronic assistive device users, who use oral language as their primary form of communication. RESULTS: The instruments were translated as Checklist de autoadvocacia "Eu consigo" e Checklists de Autoadvocacia em Audiologia - Ensino Fundamental I, Ensino Fundamental II and Ensino Médio. G1 did not report difficulties regarding the terms used in the checklists; however, they reported difficulties completing the student's progress. The audiologists who used the checklists to interview G2 did not report difficulties regarding the use of the instrument. Therefore, after pre-testing the prefinal version, there was no need to make changes to the instruments, which were then presented as the final version. CONCLUSION: All Self-Advocacy Checklists were translated and cross-culturally adapted into Brazilian Portuguese and are valid instruments to measure the self-advocacy skills of students with hearing loss in a clinical context.

OBJETIVO: Traduzir e adaptar culturalmente para o português brasileiro os questionários Self-Advocacy Checklist "I can", Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (ASAC-ES), Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - MIDDLE SCHOOL (ASAC-MS) e Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - HIGH SCHOOL (ASAC-HS), para avaliar os habilidades de autoadvocacia de usuários de dispositivos eletrônicos auditivos. MÉTODO: A tradução foi realizada por meio de uma adaptação das diretrizes de Beaton et al. (2000). A versão pré-teste foi aplicada em dois grupos. O Grupo 1 (G1) foi composto por 14 professores de adolescentes com deficiência auditiva. O Grupo 2 (G2) foi composto por 15 pacientes adolescentes com deficiência auditiva, usuários de dispositivos eletrônicos auditivos, que fazem uso da linguagem oral como forma primária de comunicação. RESULTADOS: Os instrumentos foram traduzidos como Checklist de autoadvocacia "Eu consigo" e Checklists de Autoadvocacia em Audiologia - Ensino Fundamental I, Ensino Fundamental II e Ensino Médio. Para o G1, não houve relato de dificuldade em relação aos termos utilizados nos protocolos, porém, relataram dificuldades em relação ao preenchimento do progresso do estudante. Para o G2, as fonoaudiólogas que aplicaram os instrumentos em forma de entrevista não relataram dificuldade quanto ao uso do instrumento e sua aplicação. Após a aplicação da versão pré-teste, não houve necessidade de fazer alterações nos instrumentos, os quais foram apresentados como versão final. CONCLUSÃO: As Checklist de autoadvocacia foram traduzidas e adaptadas culturalmente para o português brasileiro e são instrumentos válidos para a mensuração das habilidades de autoadvocacia de estudantes com deficiência auditiva em contexto clínico.

Vocal Self-Perception of Singers During COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the self-perception of vocal fatigue and use of singing voice during the COVID-19 pandemic between professional and amateur singers and to relate this self-perception with vocal use characteristics during this period. METHODOLOGY: Participants were 121 singers divided into professional singers group (PSG) (12 men and 20 women) comprising singers who depended exclusively on singing as a profession and an amateur singers group (ASG) (37 men and 52 women) of singers who did not depend exclusively on singing for their livelihood. All answered online questionnaires through Google Forms ®. Sociodemographic and vocal characteristics were investigated before and during the pandemic; symptoms of vocal fatigue were assessed through the vocal fatigue index (VFI); and self-perception of use of singing voice through the evaluation of the ability to sing easily protocol for Brazil (EASE-Br). RESULTS: In the comparison between groups, the PSG presented higher scores of vocal fatigue in fatigue and vocal limitation (P = 0.045), vocal restriction (P = 0.002), and recovery with vocal rest (P = 0.008) domains than did the ASG. There was no difference between the groups regarding the use of singing voice. Based on the relationship between self-perception and vocal use characteristics during the pandemic, it was observed that the presence of vocal complaint was the only factor associated with self-perception of fatigue symptomatology in both groups. Regarding the self-perception of the current status of the singing voice, singing time, the presence of vocal complaints, the need to increase visual concentration, and the perception of vocal worsening during the pandemic were considered predictive for amateur singers. For professional singers, vocal complaints and vocal training were predictors for self-perception of the current status of the singing voice. CONCLUSION: Professional singers presented with higher scores of vocal fatigue than did amateur singers. The symptomatology of vocal fatigue was associated with the presence of vocal complaints in both groups. However, self-perception of the current status of the singing voice was different between the groups and was associated with vocal training for professional singers and characteristics of vocal demand of singing voice during the pandemic period for amateur singers.

O empoderamento na reabilitação auditiva: tradução dos questionários de autoadvocacia / Empowerment in hearing rehabilitation: translation of self-advocacy checklists

RESUMO Objetivo Traduzir e adaptar culturalmente para o português brasileiro os questionários Self-Advocacy Checklist "I can", Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (ASAC-ES), Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - MIDDLE SCHOOL (ASAC-MS) e Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist - HIGH SCHOOL (ASAC-HS), para avaliar os habilidades de autoadvocacia de usuários de dispositivos eletrônicos auditivos. Método A tradução foi realizada por meio de uma adaptação das diretrizes de Beaton et al. (2000). A versão pré-teste foi aplicada em dois grupos. O Grupo 1 (G1) foi composto por 14 professores de adolescentes com deficiência auditiva. O Grupo 2 (G2) foi composto por 15 pacientes adolescentes com deficiência auditiva, usuários de dispositivos eletrônicos auditivos, que fazem uso da linguagem oral como forma primária de comunicação. Resultados Os instrumentos foram traduzidos como Checklist de autoadvocacia "Eu consigo" e Checklists de Autoadvocacia em Audiologia - Ensino Fundamental I, Ensino Fundamental II e Ensino Médio. Para o G1, não houve relato de dificuldade em relação aos termos utilizados nos protocolos, porém, relataram dificuldades em relação ao preenchimento do progresso do estudante. Para o G2, as fonoaudiólogas que aplicaram os instrumentos em forma de entrevista não relataram dificuldade quanto ao uso do instrumento e sua aplicação. Após a aplicação da versão pré-teste, não houve necessidade de fazer alterações nos instrumentos, os quais foram apresentados como versão final. Conclusão As Checklist de autoadvocacia foram traduzidas e adaptadas culturalmente para o português brasileiro e são instrumentos válidos para a mensuração das habilidades de autoadvocacia de estudantes com deficiência auditiva em contexto clínico.

ABSTRACT Purpose To translate and cross-culturally adapt to Brazilian Portuguese four instruments for assessing self-advocacy skills of users of electronic hearing devices: the "I can" Self-Advocacy Checklist and three versions of the Audiology Self-Advocacy Checklist (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL). Methods The translation process was adapted from the guidelines of Beaton et al. (2000). The prefinal version was pre-tested in two groups. Group 1 (G1) was composed of 14 teachers of adolescents with hearing loss. Group 2 (G2) was composed of 15 adolescent patients with hearing loss, electronic assistive device users, who use oral language as their primary form of communication. Results The instruments were translated as Checklist de autoadvocacia "Eu consigo" e Checklists de Autoadvocacia em Audiologia - Ensino Fundamental I, Ensino Fundamental II and Ensino Médio. G1 did not report difficulties regarding the terms used in the checklists; however, they reported difficulties completing the student's progress. The audiologists who used the checklists to interview G2 did not report difficulties regarding the use of the instrument. Therefore, after pre-testing the prefinal version, there was no need to make changes to the instruments, which were then presented as the final version. Conclusion All Self-Advocacy Checklists were translated and cross-culturally adapted into Brazilian Portuguese and are valid instruments to measure the self-advocacy skills of students with hearing loss in a clinical context.

A autoadvocacia como prática de empoderamento de adolescentes com deficiência auditiva: um estudo-piloto / Self-advocacy as a practice of empowering adolescents with hearing impairment: a pilot study

RESUMO Objetivo verificar a efetividade da intervenção com atividades lúdicas grupais que visam desenvolver a autoadvocacia e a autocidadania como prática de empoderamento de adolescentes com deficiência auditiva. Métodos trata-se de um estudo experimental pré e pós-intervenção, de abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. Participaram quatro adolescentes com idades entre 12 e 17 anos, usuários de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual e/ou implante coclear, oralizados. Foram realizados cinco encontros presenciais, nos quais foram abordados temas relacionados à autoadvocacia, por meio de atividades lúdicas. Os instrumentos Checklist de Autoadvocacia "Eu consigo" e o Questionário de participação em sala de aula foram aplicados na pré e pós- intervenção. Foram aplicados o Inventário de Habilidades Sociais para Aadolescentes (IHS-Adolescente) e a Escala Wechsler Abreviada de Inteligência. Os dados foram analisados de forma qualitativa e quantitativa. Resultados No Inventário de Habilidades Sociais para Adolescentes, para frequência, todos os participantes foram classificados como abaixo da média ou média inferior. No teste de Escala Wechsler Abreviada de Inteligência, observando o dado de quociente de inteligência de execução, todos ficaram na média. Houve diferenças na comparação dos resultados pré e pós-intervenção do Checklist de Autoadvocacia "Eu consigo", principalmente no domínio compreensão da audição e da perda auditiva e uso dos dispositivos auditivos. No Questionário de participação em sala de aula, foi observada piora em alguns domínios, como compreensão dos professores e aspectos negativos. Conclusão O programa de intervenção com a estruturação proposta neste estudo foi eficiente para desenvolver as habilidades de autoadvocacia e autocidadania para o empoderamento de adolescentes com deficiência auditiva.

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify the effectiveness of an intervention with recreational activities that aim to develop self-advocacy and citizenship as a practice of empowerment for adolescents with hearing impairment. Methods This is a pre- and post-intervention experimental study with a quantitative and qualitative approach. Four oral hard-of-hearing adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years, users of hearing aids and/or cochlear implants, participated in this study. Five face-to-face meetings were held, in which topics related to self-advocacy were addressed through recreational activities. The Self-advocacy Checklist "I can" and the Classroom Participation Questionnaire (CPQ) were applied pre- and post-intervention. The Social Skills Inventory for Adolescents (IHSA-Del-Prette) and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) were also used. The data were analyzed utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods. Results In the Frequency Indicator of the IHSA-Del-Prette, all participants were classified as low average or below average. In the WASI, which analyzed performance IQ, all participants were classified as average. Differences were observed when comparing the Self-advocacy Checklist "I can" pre- and post-intervention, especially regarding hearing and hearing loss and the use of hearing devices. In the CPQ, worsening was observed in some domains, such as teachers' understanding and negative aspects. Conclusion The intervention program with the structure proposed in this study was efficient in developing self-advocacy and citizenship skills to empower adolescents with hearing impairment.