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[Long-term efficiency of vocal aptitude tests and voice training in student teachers]
Sylvia Meuret1, Siegrun Lemke2, Bettina Hentschel3
1Sektion Phoniatrie und Audiologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Objective:
Teachers are subject to exceptionally high vocal stress throughout their lives and have an increased prevalence of voice disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficiency of voice training in student teachers during their lifelong career as a teacher. In addition, we investigated the relationship between vocal aptitude tests and teachers' vocal health.
Methods:
In a multicentre case-control study, 202 teachers (median age: 48 years, 165 women, 37 men) were examined. The examination consisted of a standardised anamnesis, analysis of the voice, laryngostroboscopy and audiometry. Subjects were attributed to the case group if at least two of the following criteria were met: pathological videolaryngostroboscopic findings, pathological analysis of the voice, subjective vocal complaints.
Results:
65/202 teachers were categorised as cases. Comparing the groups, cases were older (p=0.001), worked more often in primary schools (p=0.008) and had more problems with reflux (p=0.002). 63.8% of the controls had completed a vocal aptitude test before starting their studies, compared to 47.6% of the cases (p=0.031). A multivariate analysis showed an OR of 1.6 for developing dysphonia if neither voice training nor a vocal aptitude test has taken place during the course of study.
Conclusion:
Many risk factors associated with dysphonia in teachers are often difficult or impossible to change. Vocal aptitude tests and voice training during the studies represent a primary prevention of occupational dysphonia in the teaching profession.
