Voice handicap, vocal fatigue, and voice-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE

to describe sociodemographic characteristics of individuals with multiple sclerosis and correlate and compare vocal fatigue, voice handicap, and voice-related quality of life of individuals with and without the disease.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, quantitative study with 52 volunteers with multiple sclerosis and 52 control volunteers, matched by sex, age, and education level. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through a questionnaire and medical record analysis. Participants responded to the reduced Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). Correlational and comparative analyses were performed, with a 5% significance level (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

There was a greater predominance of females diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, with a mean age of 40 years, who graduated from high school, and with a relapsing-remitting disease course. Voice handicap was positively correlated with vocal fatigue, and voice handicap and vocal fatigue were negatively correlated with voice-related quality of life in both groups. Participants with multiple sclerosis exceeded the VHI-10 and VFI cutoff scores and were below the V-RQOL cutoff score.

CONCLUSION

There was a prevalence of the disease in young, educated females with relapsing-remitting disease. The greater the voice handicap and/or vocal fatigue, the lower the voice-related quality of life in both groups. However, people with multiple sclerosis self-reported greater voice handicap and vocal fatigue and poorer voice-related quality of life.