Ambulatory Monitoring of Teachers' Voice Use

Method: Thirty-two French-speaking female teachers were monitored during one workweek (5 days) using the Ambulatory Phonation Monitor, Model 3200 (KayPENTAX). Phonation time, fundamental frequency (F0), sound pressure level (SPL), distance dose and cycle dose were analyzed in both professional and non-professional environments.
Results: Teachers’ phonation time was statistically higher at school (20.3% ± 4.2) than not at school (10.4% ± 3.8). Concerning the fundamental frequency, both F0 average and F0 mode were statistically higher in the professional environment (F0 average = 258.7 Hz ± 20.5; F0 mode = 229.7 Hz ± 18.3) than in the non-professional environment (F0 average = 239.6 Hz ± 20.1; F0 mode = 213.3 Hz ± 20.6). The teachers spoke statistically louder at school (80.6 dB SPL ± 4.9) than not at school (74.5 dB SPL ± 5.2 dB SPL). The cycle dose and the distance dose were also statistically higher at school than in the non-professional environment. The data showed that the vocal folds vibrate 1,195,834 (± 255,696) times a day at work, plus 425,102 (±194,338) times after work. The distance traveled by the vocal folds for these teachers was 4,247 (± 1,476) meters at work, plus 1,173 (± 527) meters after work.
Conclusion: Professional and non-professional voice use comparisons showed significant differences for all parameters (p<.001), indicating that vocal load was higher in the professional environment compared to the non-professional environment.