Auditory vocal analysis and factors associated with voice disorders among teachers.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

Teachers are professionals who demand much of their voices and, consequently, present a high risk of developing vocal disorders during the course of employment.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify factors associated with vocal disorders among teachers.

METHOD:

An exploratory cross-sectional study, which investigated 476 teachers in primary and secondary schools in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Teachers answered a questionnaire and were submitted to auditory vocal analysis. The GRBAS was used for the diagnosis of vocal disorders.

RESULTS:

The study population comprised 82.8% women, teachers with an average age of 40.7 years, teachers with higher education (88.4%), with an average workday of 38 hours per week, average 11.5 years of professional practice and average monthly income of R$1.817.18. The prevalence of voice disorders was 53.6%. (255 teachers). The bivariate analysis showed statistically significant associations between vocal disorders and age above 40 years (PR = 1.83; 95% CI; 1.27-2.64), family history of dysphonia (PR = 1.72; 95% CI; 1.06-2.80), over 20 hours of weekly working hours (PR = 1.66; 95% CI; 1.09-2.52) and presence of chalk dust in the classroom (PR = 1.70; 95% CI; 1.14-2.53).

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that teachers, 40 years old and over, with a family history of dysphonia, working over 20 hours weekly, and teaching in classrooms with chalk dust are more likely to develop voice disorders than others.

• Authors: Albanita Gomes da Costa de Ceballos, Fernando Martins Carvalho, Tânia Maria de Araújo, Eduardo José Farias Borges Dos Reis
• Journal: Revista brasileira de epidemiologia = Brazilian journal of epidemiology (Rev Bras Epidemiol) Vol. 14 Issue 2 Pg. 285-95 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1980-5497 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 21655695 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Faculty
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Occupational Diseases (diagnosis)
• Voice Disorders (diagnosis)
• Voice Quality
• Young Adult