Weaker lungs may affect vocal health of women

Poor lung functioning is likely to be the reason behind voice fatigue, finds a new study aiming to investigate underlying risk factors for voice problems and gender differences in speech.

Vocal fatigue — hoarseness, vocal tiredness, muscle pain and lost or cracked notes — is a common complaint among teachers and one of the most debilitating conditions that can lead to vocal damage.  The findings showed that females face a significantly higher risk than men of developing long-term vocal problems. 

“The study is the first to connect voice fatigue problems with gender-based physiological differences in lung functions, pointing to respiratory function as a source of the gender inequality in voice problems,” said lead researcher Eric Hunter from the Michigan State University in the US.  The lung function of women in the amount of air they inhale and exhale was linked to getting voice fatigue.

The results showed that women weren’t able to inhale and exhale as much air as men. The study supports the use of spirometers to be used as a vocal fatigue-screening device for teachers.