Effects of Group Speech-Language Pathology Therapy for Teachers With Voice Disorders

To analyze the effects of implementing a Voice Program in a group setting, focusing on the record of vocal symptoms and self-reporting by teachers with voice disorders.

This is a longitudinal study with preintervention and postintervention assessments. The study included 23 female teachers with voice disorders who participated in the Voice Program at a municipal hospital. All participants underwent otorhinolaryngological assessment (diagnosis) and speech-language evaluation of voice (assessment of health aspects and treatments, GRBAS Scale (classifies hoarseness, roughness, breathiness, asthenia [weakness] and tension), pitch, loudness, resonance, respiratory type, and pneumophonoarticulatory coordination) and completed the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) and Vocal Production Condition-Teacher instruments. The Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD), Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), and Voice Self-Report (VSR-Initial and VSR-Final) instruments were used for group comparison of preintervention and postintervention data collection. Effects were recorded by analyzing these instruments and participant self-reports. Statistical analysis compared SIVD and VFI scores before and after the intervention. The VSR-I and VSR-F analysis was conducted by reviewing the material to establish objective categories for record classification.

Preintervention and postintervention data analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in SIVD scores postintervention and a decrease in the total symptoms reported (notably for clearing throat, dry cough, cough with secretion, and pain while swallowing), as well as in the overall average of VFI domains. Upon completing the program, self-reports showed that teachers noted changes in their voices, reporting aspects related to their vocal care and habits.

The analyzed program proved effective in reducing vocal symptoms, especially those related to vocal fatigue, accompanied by positive self-reports on habit changes.