Perceptual and Acoustic Correlates of Voice in COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

AbstractAccording to the information published by the World Health Organization in 2020, coronavirus disease, abbreviated as COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The virus is reported to result in mild to moderate respiratory illness, significantly affecting vocal mechanisms. The present study explored the effects of a recent COVID-19 infection on perceptual, self-reported outcomes, and acoustic measures of voice. The study was conducted on 25 COVID-19-infected patients and was compared against a group of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Perceptual evaluation, self-reported voice outcomes using Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), and acoustic analysis were conducted on the two groups of participants. The results revealed significant differences in perceptual and acoustic parameters of voice between the two groups.