Perceptions of the Effects of Vocal Hygiene Training on College Professors

This study investigated the efficacy of vocal hygiene training by studying changes in the self- and listener-rated vocal characteristics of college professors before and after vocal hygiene training. Eight college professors served as experimental subjects and received three half-hour sessions of vocal hygiene training. Nine college professors served as control subjects and received no vocal hygiene training. Subgroups of professors with self-reported vocal difficulties were further identified within each group. An original vocal characteristic scale based on the literature was used to measure self-rated vocal characteristics. Results indicated no significant difference in self-rated voice characteristics between subjects who received vocal hygiene training and those who did not. Further analysis of the subgroups revealed a significant increase in scores on the original vocal characteristic scale for the group of subjects who received vocal hygiene training and had self-reported vocal difficulties. Results of the listener-rating task indicated that vocal hygiene training did not facilitate improvements in vocal quality which were perceptive to listeners. However, results suggested that vocal hygiene training may be efficacious with professional voice users who report vocal difficulties