Thesis (MMus) (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:In Suid-Afrika, soos in ander lande, gebeur dit dikwels dat sangers in een of ander stadium van hul loopbaan met stemmoeilikheid/’n stemprobleem te doen kry. Die mees algemene reaksie is om ’n oor-, neus- en keelspesialis (ONK-spesialis) te besoek vir hulp. Die sangaktiwiteit vereis egter ’n baie fyn gebalanseerde kondisie van die sangapparaat en dit blyk dat die oorsprong van die meeste stemprobleme onder sangers funksioneel van aard is. Daarom word daar van die veronderstelling uitgegaan dat die mees suksesvolle behandelingsroete vir die sanger met ‘n stemprobleem ‘n integrale interdissiplinêre benadering behels wat nie net die ONK-spesialis insluit nie, maar ook ‘n spraakterapeut en sangpedagoog. Anders as in Suid- Afrika, word hierdie interdissiplinêre benadering alreeds algemeen toegepas in lande soos die VSA en Brittanje. Hierdie studie vind plaas vanuit die oogpunt van die sangpedagoog en identifiseer die nodige kennis en praktiese ondervinding wat sodanige sangpedagoog sal benodig om suksesvol as deel van ’n interdissiplinêre span in die behandeling van sangers met stemprobleme te funksioneer. Om hierdie doel te verwesenlik, neem die studie die vorm van ’n gevallestudie aan waarin die navorser binne die bestek van verskeie maande konsultasies met sangers met stemprobleme binne ‘n mediese stemkliniek onder leiding van ’n ONKspesialis prakties geobserveer het. Deurgaans word sodanige gevallestudies weergegee en bespreek. Dit sluit o.a. die rol van elk van die interdissiplinêre spanlede, oorsake en behandeling van tipiese stemprobleme onder sangers, asook die spesifieke rol van die sangpedagoog in die behandelingsproses, in. In die geheel het hierdie studie getoon dat daar ’n groot leemte en onkunde onder baie sangers bestaan (veral amateursangers) wat die nodige sorg en hantering van hul sangstem betref. Hiperfunksionele stemproduksie a.g.v. foutiewe stemgebruikgewoontes, afwesigheid van sangopleiding en onkunde op die gebied van stemhigiëne en -sorg was opvallend. Dit blyk dat die sangpedagoog, in noue samewerking met die ONK-spesialis en spraakterapeut, ‘n kritieke leemte kan vul in die gespesialiseerde opvoeding en behandeling van sangers met stemprobleme. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa, as in other countries, singers frequently happen to experience voice problems at some or other stage in their career. The general reaction to this problem is to seek help from an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT specialist). Seeing that the activity of singing requires such a finely balanced condition of the vocal instrument, it seems that the origin of most voice problems singers experience are of a functional nature. This study is based on the premise that the most successful way of treating an artist with a voice problem is via an integrated interdisciplinary team approach, which includes an ENT specialist as well as a speech therapist and a singing pedagogue. Unlike in South Africa, this interdisciplinary approach is already common practice in countries such as the USA and the UK. The study is conducted from the viewpoint of a singing pedagogue. It identifies the knowledge and practical experience the singing pedagogue would require to function successfully as part of an interdisciplinary team in the treatment of singers with voice problems. To succeed in this goal the study takes on the form of a case study. The researcher practically observed consultations with singers over several months in a medical voice clinic under the leadership of an ENT specialist. These case studies are reflected and discussed throughout this thesis. Amongst others, this includes the role of each member of the interdisciplinary team, the causes and treatment of typical voice problems amongst singers, as well as the specific role of the singing pedagogue in the treatment process. It is found that a great deal of ignorance exists amongst many singers (especially amateur singers) in respect of the necessary care and management of their singing voice. Hyperfunctional voice production due to incorrect voice-use habits, the absence of vocal training and ignorance regarding vocal hygiene and voice care were encountered frequently.

Teachers frequently present with voice problems as result of functional voice hyperfunction and it seems that occupational duties often impede successful implementation of a conventional voice conservation strategies. The goal of this single-subject study was to investigate the practical value of personal voice amplification as an assistive option for teachers experiencing occupation-related voice problems The physical state of a teacher’s vocal chords and specific perceptual and acoustic attributes of her voice were evaluated before and after a period of conventional voice conservation, and also before and after a period during which personal voice amplification was used as an augmentative strategy. In the course of the study it was in the interest of the subject that a persistent vocal fold nodule be removed surgically. The research design was adapted accordingly and the study consequently included a pre- and post surgical phase. Physical examinations of the vocal cords reflected the positive effect of the surgical removal of a vocal fold nodule. An improvement in the general status of the vocal cords was also noted following periods during which personal voice amplification was used in combination with a conventional voice conservation strategy. Perceptual and acoustic analysis of voice quality confirmed the positive effect of the surgical intervention. Although a panel of judges did not detect an improvement in the subject’s voice quality following the assistive use of the personal amplifier, several acoustic voice parameters showed improvement or normalised after the use of personal voice amplification in combination with conventional voice conservation strategies. The subject’s repeated evaluation of her own voice experiences, as well as her view of the practicability of the two voice conservation strategies, revealed a remarkably positive attitude towards the augmentative use of personal voice amplification. The conclusion is that teachers who experience occupational voice problems could benefit from the use of personal voice amplification in combination with a conventional voice conservation strategy. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted