[en] Purpose: To identify the factors affecting teachers’ vocal acoustic parameters, with the aim of detecting individuals at risk of phonotrauma.
Method: The voicing time, voice sound pressure level [SPL] and fundamental frequency [fo] of 87 teachers were measured during one workweek using a voice dosimeter. We retrospectively investigated the impact of 10 factors (gender, age, teaching experience, teaching level, tobacco, gastro-esophageal problems, nonoccupational voice activity, voice education, past voice problems, and biopsychosocial impact of voice problems measured using the Voice Handicap Index [VHI]) on each voice parameter.
Results: None of the above factors affected voicing time or SPL. fo depended significantly on gender, teaching level, nonoccupational voice activity and VHI score. Specifically, fo was higher in women (Δ = 69 Hz), in individuals without nonoccupational voice activities (Δ = 11 Hz), and in individuals with a lower VHI score (increase of 0.7 Hz for each additional point). For females, post hoc comparisons revealed a substantial impact of teaching level on fo: university instructors had deeper voices than kindergarten (Δ = 66 Hz), elementary (Δ = 52 Hz), or secondary teachers (Δ = 41 Hz).
Conclusions: Since higher fo increases the mechanical stress related to vocal fold vibration, the screening and prevention of phonotrauma should focus primarily on women, particularly those who teach at lower levels, and teachers with more self-rated voice problems. The lower fo of teachers who engage in nonprofessional voice activities may suggest acute inflammation or muscle fatigue due to voice overload.
Disciplines :
Otolaryngology Education & instruction Public health, health care sciences & services
Author, co-author :
Remacle, Angélique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Logopédie > Logopédie des troubles de la voix
Lefèvre, Nathalie; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science & Statistical Methodology and Computing Service
Language :
English
Title :
Which teachers are most at risk for voice disorders? Individual factors predicting vocal acoustic parameters monitored in situ during a workweek
Publication date :
March 2021
Journal title :
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
ISSN :
0340-0131
eISSN :
1432-1246
Publisher :
Springer, Heidelberg, Germany
Volume :
94
Issue :
6
Pages :
1271–1285
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
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