Browsing by Author "Paltura, C."

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Investigation of Behavioral and Emotional Characteristics of Children With Vocal Nodules
(Elsevier Inc., 2025) Paltura, C.; Işık, E.E.
Objective: Although physiological and medical factors play a role in the formation of vocal nodules (VNs), in recent years, personality tendencies and related behavioral characteristics have been reported to be among the contributing factors. In this study, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to compare the emotional and behavioral problems of children with VNs and healthy children with normal voices. Methods: In this descriptive comparative study, 55 parents of children aged 4–17 years who presented to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic with dysphonia, underwent videolaryngostroboscopic imaging and were diagnosed with VN and 55 parents of healthy children who presented to the ENT clinic in the same period and were not diagnosed with any voice disorder participated. Parents completed the SDQ to screen for behavioral and emotional problems. Results: The study included 55 children with VN (37 boys and 18 girls) and 55 healthy children with normal voice (30 boys and 25 girls). The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age (P > 0.05). The groups differed statistically significantly in terms of emotional, behavioral problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity, peer problems, social behaviors subscales and total difficulty score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study show that children with VN should be evaluated from a behavioral perspective. It is thought that the inclusion of the behavioral perspective in the evaluation process may be useful for more comprehensive and accurate planning of the intervention program. © 2025 The Voice Foundation
Investigation of Vocal Fatigue, Anxiety Level, and Perceived Communication Skills According To the Purpose of Mask Use During the Pandemic
(Elsevier Inc., 2025) Işık, E.E.; Paltura, C.; Develioğlu, Ö.N.
Objective: The use of face masks during COVID-19 causes communication difficulties. Determining the effects of face masks can provide precautions against possible voice problems. The aim of the study is to determine the difference between vocal fatigue and anxiety levels depending on the use of masks in basic and basic-professional activities. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a descriptive and cross-sectional design. Data were collected between March and May 2021. The study included 476 people aged 18-65 years. Participants were divided into two groups according to the purpose of mask use; “wearing masks only for essential activities” group (EA) and “wearing masks for essential-professional activities” group (EPA). Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Self-Assessment Questions were used in the study. All scales and subjective evaluation questions were transferred to Google Forms. The link was sent to participants living in Turkey with a letter of consent. Results: VFI-Factor 1, VFI-Factor 2, VFI-Factor 3, VFI Total, and BAI scores differed statistically significantly between the groups. VFI and BAI scores of the EPA group were found to be higher. There was a correlation between all factors of VFI and BAI scores. According to the results of regression analysis, it was found that the purpose of mask use and BAI score increased the VFI score. When the EPA group was masked, their results on respiratory control abilities, auditory perception, and speech intelligibility were shown to be lower. Conclusion: Regardless of the purpose of use, face masks have been found to reduce speech intelligibility, auditory feedback, and the ability to maintain breath control while speaking. The findings of our study suggest that longer mask use may increase the VFI score. © 2025 The Voice Foundation