Investigating voice differences in teachers with and without self-reported voice disorders, and healthcare workers without self-reported voice disorders

Abstract

Objective

The present study had two objectives: (1) to investigate differences in voice parameters between teachers with and without self-reported voice disorders and (2) to find differences in voice parameters between teachers and healthcare workers without self-reported voice disorders.

Method

Three respondents’ groups were formed: teachers with self-reported voice disorders (mean age, 47 years; range, 34–60 years), teachers without self-reported voice disorders (46; 27–64), and healthcare workers without self-reported voice disorders (45; 31–63). All participants were women. Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), fundamental frequency (F₀), jitter, shimmer, frequency and intensity range, Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI), Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI), and perceived stress (PSS) were assessed in respondents.

Results

Twenty-nine percent of teachers noted two or more vocal symptoms daily or weekly. Teachers with self-reported voice disorders had a higher degree of perceived stress (18 vs. 13, p = .009), higher score on the VHI (25 vs. 13, p = .001), and lower score on the DSI (2.65 vs. 3.21, p = .037), than teachers without self-reported voice disorders. The VHI-30 score of 15 points could be a cut off value describing voice disorders in female teachers. Differences between teachers and health care workers without self-reported voice disorders were found in MPT (p = .001), F₀ (p = .012), jitter (p = .009), DSI (p = .023), and the perceived stress score (p = .041).

Conclusions

The teaching profession can influence the voice, and the presence of psycho-emotional factors can lead to the development of voice disorders in teachers.

Keywords:

• Voice disorders
• teachers
• self-rating
• stress
• acoustic measurements
• healthcare workers

Disclosure statement

The author reports no declaration of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund under grant Post-doctoral Research Aid, N 1.1.1.2./VIAA/1/16/001.

Notes on contributors

Baiba Trinite

Baiba Trinite, PhD, Head of Voice and Speech Research Laboratory, Associate Professor and Leading Researcher in Speech and Language Therapy at Liepaja University.