Browsing by Author "Soini, Heli"

Study aims. Human voice is the main element of speech and a tool of self-expression. Thus, a disordered voice may have a major impact on a person’s life. So far the research of subjective experiences of voice disorders carried out via qualitative methods has been scarce. Yet these methods enable an in-depth examination of the phenomenon that may expand our understanding of voice disorders as a field of logopedics. The aim of this study was to increase knowledge about voice disorders by examining how the effects of voice disorders may be seen in everyday life. The focus was in functioning, participation, coping strategies and emotional experiencing of voice disorders. Methods. The study is a multi-case study based on semi-structured theme-interviews. The interviewees were recruited in June and July 2016 from the HYKS Phoniatric Outpatient Clinic, where they were treated. Altogether seven persons, aged from 44−64, took part in the study: one man and six women. Each person was interviewed once. The data analysis was done by using thematic analysis and theory-based content analysis. Results and conclusions. Voice disorders had clear negative impact on functioning and participation. The hamper resulted from physical features of voice together with situational features. Participation was also affected by the action of communication partners and the interviewees’ own reactions towards their voice and difficult situations. Voice disorders required both functional and emotional adjusting to the changed voice. Experience was that voice disorders hindered communication, self-expression, social and professional life as well as free time activities. They were also emotionally straining and negatively impacted the mood. Voice was also related to interviewees’ thoughts about themselves. Altogether voice disorders affected life comprehensively restraining normal everyday life. This study shows that there are notable similarities in the voice disorder experiences, however the value given to these experiences depends on how individuals evaluate their effect. The clinical merit of this study is that it emphasizes the significance of processing the emotional aspects of voice disorders and it encourages to take those aspects, as well as the used coping strategies, into account more carefully than they are in current voice rehabilitation.