Background & Purpose:
This study investigated changes in vocal health and quality in acting students during their first year of full-time study. Actors, as elite vocal performers, heavily depend on good vocal health but report some of the highest rates of vocal disturbances. Few prior studies have used videostroboscopy and multidimensional assessments to examine how acting training impacts vocal outcomes.

Methods:
The study employed a longitudinal observational cohort design. Twenty-three first year acting students underwent comprehensive voice assessments at a Voice Research Clinic at the beginning of the academic year, with follow-up evaluations at year-end. A multidimensional screening approach was used to collect data, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), auditory perceptual ratings, videostroboscopic examination of the larynx, and acoustic analysis.

Results:
Findings suggest overall improvements in acoustic and auditory-perceptual outcomes, no significant change in laryngeal health, but a slight worsening in PROMs scores. This result contrasts with previous studies that reported vocal deterioration after acting training.

Conclusions
The preliminary results suggest that vocal training may improve vocal quality, but may worsen actors' self-perceptions of their own voices. Finalised results will provide valuable insights for voice clinicians, vocal coaches, and actors to contextualize the occurrence of vocal complaints and pathology in elite vocal performers.