Last update:
29-Aug-2024

OBJECTIVE To complete a further analysis of existing data to assess and analyze the prevalence of self-perceived voice disorders (VD) in speech language pathology (SLP) undergraduate students in Cyprus.

METHOD A web questionnaire was completed by 124 SLP students enrolled in undergraduate SLP programs in two universities in Cyprus. Data from one hundred and twenty-one questionnaires were analyzed. Participants were divided into two groups: students with and without self-perceived VD. The estimated prevalence of self-reported VD along with the subjective severity were determined.

RESULTS The estimated prevalence of self-perceived voice problems in the sample of 121 undergraduate SLP students examined is 23.14%±3.8%. 14.87% and 8.26% of the students perceived their voice to be slightly and moderately disordered, respectively. 9.09%, 3.30%, 4.95%, and 5.78% of the students with self-perceived VD were, respectively, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students. Also, significant differences were observed between the two groups of students in the Voice Disorder Index (VDI) total and the VDI specific statements (i.e., physical, functional, and emotional scores).

CONCLUSIONS Voice problems may be more common in undergraduate SLP students in Cyprus than the graduate SLP students in the United States and may be as common as voice problems in future teachers. Moreover, self-perceived VD may be more common in 1st year undergraduate SLP students than 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students.

Key words: Prevalence, Speech language pathology, Students, Undergraduate, Voice disorders.