Correlation between Environment, Work Organization Conditions, Voice Symptoms Self-Reported by University Professors and Speech-Language Pathology Assessment

Abstract

Introduction: Work factors may favor hazards to the health and voice of teachers. PURPOSE: to correlate environment and work organization conditions and self-reported voice symptoms of university professors with speech-Language Pathology assessment. Method: 112 teachers answered the adapted Conditions of Voice Production – Teacher questionnaire, from which answers to the following items were selected: identification, work environment and organization evaluation and voice. A perceptive-auditory voice assessment was conducted and voices were classified with or without disorder. The data obtained in both sources were correlated. Results: Noise and dust were the variables with the most statistical correlation to the symptoms reported by the teachers. Violence and stressful environment were the risk factors with most positive correlations to the vocal symptoms. The perceptive vocal symptoms that were most frequently reported by the teachers were dry throat and strained speech, which are indicative of lack of hydration and excessive tension while speaking. The Speech-Language Pathology assessment identified that one third of the teachers had voice disorders, most of which were mild. There was a positive correlation in between self-reported hoarseness and weak voice with the Speech-Language Pathology assessment. Almost all teachers reported more than three voice symptoms. Conclusion: Work environment was better evaluated than work organization and there was positive correlation between work environment and organization factors and the self-reported vocal symptoms. There was no correlation between these conditions and voice disorder according to Speech-Language Pathology assessment.