Sintomas vocais em militares da base administrativa do comando de operações especiais de Goiânia

Abstract

Introduction: In the military, vocal demand is constant, from the beginning of the career to the daily routine. The voice plays a crucial role in professional performance, transmitting security and authority. However, inadequate vocal practices, such as shouting, speaking in noisy environments, or using the voice for extended periods, can harm the vocal cords, leading to dysphonia and other vocal issues. Objective: To conduct a survey of vocal symptoms in military personnel from the administrative base of the Special Operations Command in Goiânia. Method: This is a field study, quantitative and descriptive, conducted with a group of military personnel. Inclusion criteria were male individuals with no self-reported hearing complaints. Exclusion criteria were participants undergoing speech therapy during the data collection period. The participants filled out an identification questionnaire and the Vocal Symptoms Scale (VSS). Results and Discussion: Thirty male military personnel, aged between 18 and 21, participated in the study. The most common symptoms were related to the physical domain, such as nasal congestion (40%) and the sensation of something stuck in the throat (20%); in the functional domain, difficulty speaking in noisy places was highlighted (46.7%), and the emotional impact was low, with 6.7% reporting vocal stress. The overall average score on the VSS was 20.4 points, indicating moderate vocal symptoms. Conclusion: The group of military personnel showed predominant symptoms in the physical and functional domains, with a lower emotional impact. The lack of awareness regarding vocal care highlights the need for preventive programs and speech therapy interventions from the early years of service to minimize the risk of dysphonia.