Study of Voice Disorders Among School Teachers in Goa

Teachers are heavy voice users, and they suffer from voice problems more frequently than other occupational voice users. Various studies have demonstrated that teachers speak longer than other professionals and that school teachers in particular, are at risk for voice problems such as vocal fatigue and vocal nodules. The present study is undertaken to study the prevalence of voice disorders in the teachers in different schools at any time and accesses the relationship of different working conditions like class room size, background noise, number of hours taught every day and role of chalk allergy in development of these voice disorders. The study was carried out on 133 school teachers with self reporting of voice problems through detailed questionnaire. A significant number of teachers, more so females had voice problems attributed to various factors. Voice amplification and reduction of background noise along with measures to control allergy are suggested.