What is it about?
Qualitative, semi-structured interviews of patients with a phonotraumatic voice disorder reveal the relationships between voice disorders, personal identity, and barriers. Participants, particularly singers, described their voice as central to their personal and professional identity. In these interviews, they described pressures included stigma from peers, colleagues, and health care providers, fear of being perceived as having poor vocal skills, and practical consequences such as loss of income and career uncertainty.
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Why is it important?
Because phonotrauma can impact the individual's identity, well-being, and livelihood. clinical approaches that address the emotional and identity impacts of the disorder and provide supports for the psychosocial challenges of recovery may be more effective.
Perspectives
This research was a multi-year collaboration between clinician, social scientist, and voice/anthropology student with lived experience of phono-trauma. We believe this qualitative study conveys the importance of holistic and patient-centered care for speech-language pathologies.
Carolyn Smith-Morris
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Lived Experience of Phonotrauma: Discussions on Identity and Stigma, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, February 2026, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2025_ajslp-25-00306.
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