Voice Quality and Vocal Tract Discomfort Symptoms in Patients With COVID-19.
Seyed Abolfazl Tohidast, Banafshe Mansuri, Mohammad Memarian and 2 others
PMID 34776316WHAT IT FOUND
Hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 reported more frequent and severe throat discomfort than healthy staff.
Clinicians noted their voices were perceptibly rougher and breathier, though the impairment remained mild overall.
Key findings
01Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher scores for all voice quality parameters (roughness, breathiness, etc.) than healthy controls, but the average score remained between 'normal' and 'mild impairment'.
02The most common vocal tract discomfort symptoms reported by patients were a dry throat and an irritable throat, affecting 68.2% of the group.
03Total scores for both the frequency and severity of vocal tract discomforts were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group compared to healthy subjects.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only included patients with mild to moderate disease who were not intubated; results do not apply to severe cases or those who required mechanical ventilation. The healthy control group consisted of university staff, which may introduce selection bias regarding age, socioeconomic status, or general health compared to the patient population. The study was cross-sectional, capturing voice and discomfort at a single point during hospitalization, so it does not track how these symptoms evolve over time or after discharge. The GRBAS ratings, while blinded, are subjective perceptual measures rather than objective acoustic analysis.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant statistical differences as evidence of severe voice pathology. The patients' voice scores were still in the 'normal to mild impairment' range, meaning the clinical presentation is subtle despite being statistically distinct from healthy controls.