Self-Reported Acute and Chronic Voice Disorders in Teachers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Public Health

Background:

• Voice disorders are prevalent among educators.
• Identifying risk factors is crucial for prevention.
• Elementary school teachers face specific occupational demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with self-reported acute and chronic voice disorders.
• To investigate risk factors among municipal elementary school teachers in Montes Claros, Brazil.

Main Methods:

• Self-reported dysphonia assessed via direct questioning on voice changes and duration (acute/chronic).
• Independent variables included sociodemographic, lifestyle, organizational, environmental, health, and voice-related factors.
• Hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• 38.9% reported no voice disorders, 35.4% acute, and 25.7% chronic.
• Excessive voice use, alcohol consumption (>1 drink/time), and prior voice treatment linked to both acute and chronic disorders.
• Low water intake (≤3 glasses/day) associated with acute disorders.
• Chronic disorders linked to >15 years of teaching and perceived external noise.

Conclusions:

• Organizational, environmental, and predisposing factors significantly contribute to voice disorders in teachers.
• Vocal health promotion programs are essential to address identified risk factors.
• Targeted interventions can mitigate the prevalence of voice disorders in educational settings.