Prevalence of voice complaints, risk factors and impact of voice problems in female student teachers

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done among 457 female student teachers and 144 females in the general population. The conclusions are based on the opinions of student teachers and the general population. The results of this study show that 39.6% of the student teachers and 32.6% of the general population reported voice complaints at the moment and/or over the past year (p = 0.198). The association between various risk factors (vocal loading factors, physical factors, environmental factors and psycho-emotional factors) and voice complaints were examined. Vocal load was reported in both the student teachers and the general population (p = 0.322). Among the subjects with voice complaints, the student teachers were significantly more of the opinion than the general population that environmental irritants in the classroom (p = 0.001) and the composition of the group they communicate with (p = 0.033) have a negative influence on their voice. In the groups with voice complaints, the student teachers reported significantly less than the general population that stress (p = 0.004) and the deterioration of their general physical condition (p = 0.003) have a negative influence on their voice. Remarkably, over a third of the student teachers and one fifth of the general population with voice complaints were of the opinion that decrease of hearing has a negative influence on their voices (p = 0.113). There was no significant difference in Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores (p = 0.284) and impact of voice complaints among student teachers and the general population. Over 15% of the student teachers and the general population with voice complaints reported being or having been disabled due to the voice problem, probably reflecting the severity of the voice problem (p = 0.838). The groups reporting voice complaints and disability in relation to their voice complaints have significantly higher VHI scores than those without voice complaints and disability, which indicates a higher psychosocial impact of voice complaints. Only around a third of the student teachers and the general population with voice complaints sought paramedical care (p = 0.656)/treatment (p = 0.361) for their voice complaint. Only a minority of student teachers (18.6%) and the general population (29.5%) with voice complaints were of the opinion that the number of people they communicate with has a negative influence on their voice (p = 0.120). Only around a third of the student teachers and less than a tenth of the general population with voice complaints were of the view that they would develop a voice complaint due to their profession (p = 0.003). Less than half of the student teachers and less than one fifth of the general population with voice complaints were aware of the potential risks of their profession on their voice (p = 0.002). Voice complaints appear to have a multifactorial genesis. The student teachers are not sufficiently aware of the impact of the various risk factors on their voice. Furthermore, they are not aware of the potential risk that future teaching may have on their voice. This apparent lack of awareness in student teachers may be considered a risk factor for voice complaints. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.