Effectiveness of Vocal Function Exercises (VFE) for Vocal Fatigue in Madrassa Students

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to explore the effectiveness of vocal function exercises (VFEs) on vocal fatigue in madrassa students. The study used randomized control trials with between-groups experimental research design. A sample of 24 girls enrolled in a madrassa in Lahore was selected. The study was conducted over 6 weeks from March to May.  A treatment group was formed in which the participants were given vocal function exercises and vocal hygiene education. For the control group, only vocal hygiene education was provided to the participants. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed a substantial difference in mean scores between pre- and post-testing of the vocal fatigue index (VFI) in treatment group, p< .05 with a large effect size r= 0.62 (>0.5). Moreover, after treatment, there is a significant difference in vocal fatigue index scores (except VFI factor 3) of the treatment group as compared to the control group, p < .05 with a large effect size r= .85 (>.5). Vocal function exercises were efficient in improving the vocal fatigue of madrassa students. Thus, this study offers novel understandings by providing empirical support. VFEs could be a practical treatment approach for the management of voice disorders in children. Nevertheless, further research is needed to establish the effectiveness of this treatment approach for individuals with vocal fatigue.

Keywords: Voice disorders, vocal fatigue, physiologic voice therapy, vocal function exercises, madrassa students