Purpose: The association between voice alterations, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has previously been reported. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that HRQL and dysphonia-associated handicap of patients diagnosed with asthma or…

Purpose: Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin are associated with different aspects of the stress response. As stress is regarded as a risk factor for vocal symptoms, we wanted to explore the association between the oxytocin receptor gene ("OXTR") and arginine vasopressin 1A receptor gene ("AVPR1A") single-nucleotide polymorphisms…

Purpose: Recently, Simberg et al. (2009) found genetic effects on a composite variable consisting of 6 vocal symptom items measuring dysphonia. The purpose of the present study was to determine genetic and environmental effects on the individual vocal symptoms in a population-based sample of Finnish twins. Method: The sample comprised 1,728 twins…

Vocal disorders are a very common occupation-related disease in teachers, though it has never been given enough attention in China. As a result, the occupational health care of professional voice users is surprisingly, undeveloped compared to the attention given to occupational hearing disorders or many other occupational symptoms. The aim of the…