Voice disorders in teachers: occupational risk factors and psycho-emotional factors.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Teaching is a high-risk occupation for developing voice disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate previously described vocal risk factors as well as to identify new risk factors related to both the personal life of the teacher (fluid intake, voice-demanding activities, family history of voice disorders, and children at home) and to environmental factors (temperature changes, chalk use, presence of curtains, carpet, or air-conditioning, acoustics in the classroom, and noise in and outside the classroom).

METHODS:

The study group comprised 994 teachers (response rate 46.6%). All participants completed a questionnaire. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

A total of 51.2% (509/994) of the teachers presented with voice disorders. Women reported more voice disorders compared to men (56.4% versus 40.4%, P < 0.001). Vocal risk factors were a family history of voice disorders (P = 0.005), temperature changes in the classroom (P = 0.017), the number of pupils per classroom (P = 0.001), and noise level inside the classroom (P = 0.001). Teachers with voice disorders presented a higher level of psychological distress (P < 0.001) compared to teachers without voice problems.

CONCLUSION:

Voice disorders are frequent among teachers, especially in female teachers. The results of this study emphasize that multiple factors are involved in the development of voice disorders.

• Authors: Evelyne van Houtte, Sofie Claeys, Floris Wuyts, Kristiane van Lierde
• Journal: Logopedics, phoniatrics, vocology (Logoped Phoniatr Vocol) Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 107-16 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1651-2022 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22428918 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Emotions
• Environment
• Faculty
• Female
• Humans
• Life Style
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Diseases (etiology, physiopathology, psychology)
• Odds Ratio
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Stress, Psychological (complications, physiopathology, psychology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Teaching
• Voice Disorders (etiology, physiopathology, psychology)
• Voice Quality
• Young Adult