Investigation of vocal changes after COVID-19 in the Brazilian population

• Grant number: 21/11627-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Kelly Cristina Alves Silverio
• Grantee: Júlia Coca Angélico
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

At the end of 2019, there was worldwide contamination by the virus Sars-CoV-2, popularly known as COVID-19. Carrying sequelae to the respiratory system; this being a subsystem of vocal production, responsible for providing airflow, as well as subglottic pressure for the initiation and maintenance of phonation, consequently, there is a report of the appearance of vocal alterations in 26.8% of patients diagnosed with mild to moderate involvement of COVID-19. Objective: To investigate self-reported vocal and laryngopharyngeal aspects after COVID-19. Specifically, check for the impact of the virus on vocal fatigue, presence of vocal and laryngopharyngeal symptoms and if there is a presence of vocal handicap after COVID-19 and correlate these aspects with general symptoms, if present, after COVID-19. Methodology: Data will be collected through an online form, made available throughout the country. Participants will be divided into two groups: a control group that was not contaminated by COVID-19 and an experimental group that was infected by the virus. The following protocols will be applied: Voice Disorder Screening Index (ITDV); Vocal Symptom Scale (ESV); Vocal Fatigue Assessment; Voice Handicap Assessment. The results will be tabulated and submitted to statistical tests for comparison between the studied groups and verification of possible correlations between symptoms.(AU)