Self-assessment of teachers with normal larynges and vocal and osteomuscular complaints

Introduction

Teachers face vocal problems related to long periods of speech and increased sound pressure, as well as environmental noise, inadequate posture and tension of the cervical muscles.

Objective

To verify the results of self-assessment of teachers with normal larynges and vocal and musculoskeletal complaints, and compare them with the reference values.

Methods

Fifty-seven teachers, aged between 21 and 60 years (average 40.14 years) participated in the study. Anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological examination, hearing screening and self-assessment protocols were performed.

Results.

In the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, the majority of teachers had discomfort in most parts of the body and in the situations evaluated; on the voice-related quality of life, the total and physical subscores were lower than the normative values while the emotional subscore was higher; regarding voice symptoms scale and vocal tract discomfort scale, the scores were higher than the normative values; in the hospital anxiety and depression scale, there was alteration in the total score; in the Vocal Activity and Participation Profile, the effects on work and emotion were above the normative values; on the University of Rhode Island change assessment—voice and on the voice handicap index there were no significant differences.

Conclusion

Most of the teachers presented vocal, musculoskeletal, and emotional complaints on the self-assessment results, what suggests excessive voice use as well as overload on the body muscles, including the larynx and vocal tract, and that they presented emotional changes. These aspects had an impact on their quality of life, but they showed no action in coping with the condition.