Voice handicap in undergraduate speech-language-hearing students: Exploring its correlation with shyness

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the correlation between self-perception of voice handicap and the degree of shyness in university students. Methods: an observational cross-sectional study including students over 18 years old enrolled in the speech-language-hearing program at a public university. Participants were invited to answer an online form, which included an identification form with questions on gender, age, and education, the Check and Buss Shyness Scale, and the reduced Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10). Data were analyzed descriptively and statistically. The Spearman's Correlation test, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Pearson´s Chi-Square test were used for statistical analysis, all with a 5% significance level. Results: 144 university students, of whom approximately 28.5% had some degree of shyness, were included. Likewise, approximately 25% of them reported perceiving a voice handicap. Shyness was significantly moderately correlated with perceived voice handicap (ρ = 0.445; p < 0.001); these two variables were also statistically significantly associated (χ² = 21.0; p < 0.001). Conclusion: shyness is related to voice handicap in speech-language-hearing university students. It can significantly influence their communication and should be included as a relevant variable in improving vocal and communicative skills.