Saves the questions and what to expect into your notes, next to the visit they belong to.
Keep this study
Lead
University of Pittsburgh
With
The University of Hong Kong
Age
21–40
Sex
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
You may be eligible if
By self-report in person or over the phone: (a) 21-40 yr; (b) no current self-perceived voice problem;(c) student teacher in the final year of formal education prior to the initiation of employment as a teacher and imminent start of the first formal teaching practicum; (d) availability and willingness to attend up to an 8-hr group intervention on 1 of 2 days when it will be offered the week before the start of student teaching, willingness to be randomized to one of three groups, and stated willingness to persist with the entire 2.5-yr protocol, which will involve baseline, 1-mo, 3-mo, 1-yr,and 2-yr follow-up measures, and two separate interventions followed by a 4-wk hygiene reporting and potentially voice exercise period for intervention groups; (e) intention to obtain employment as a teacher in the school year following graduation; (f) no degenerative or other medical conditions or medications that would affect voice, with the exception of seasonal allergies (and their treatment) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR; and its treatment).
· By clinical evaluation, for students satisfying the self-report criteria: (g) nasal patency sufficient at least unilaterally for the passage of a flexible scope; (h) no history or suspected allergy to any local anesthetic or evidence that a laryngeal exam can be conducted without it; (i) acceptably controllable gag reflex; (j) overall voice quality score \< 15 on a 100-mm visual analogue scale, following standardized procedures (see D.2.4.1), together with a total VHI score \< 17 and normal larynx (D.2.4.1; "low-starter group"-assuming the subject has indicated normal voice by self report, or overall voice quality score \< 20, together with a total VHI score \> 25 and either normal larynx or mildly impaired larynx not held to require clinical attention outside the auspices of the protocol(D.2.4.1; "high-starter group")-if the subject has indicated normal voice or at most mild, intermittent voice problems by self report; and (k) normal hearing bilaterally (30 dB at 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in the better ear).
