Relationship Between Vocal Handicap and Vocal Tract Discomfort in University Professors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/2176-2724.2025v37i3e71116Keywords:
Teaching, Signs and Symptoms, Voice Quality, VoiceAbstract
Introduction: Teachers face unique vocal health challenges due to the nature of their profession. Objective: To identify and correlate vocal tract discomfort and perceived voice handicap in university professors. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), and the Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS) were applied to university professors from a Brazilian federal institution. Spearman’s correlation test was used, with a 5% significance level (p<0.05). Results: A total of 126 professors participated: 5 (3.96%) were up to 30 years old, 47 (37.30%) between 30–40, 45 (35.71%) between 40–50, 21 (16.66%) between 50–60, and 8 (6.34%) over 60. Regarding teaching experience, 25 (19.8%) had less than 5 years, 36 (28.5%) between 5–10, 20 (15.8%) between 10–15, 24 (19%) between 15–20, and 21 (16.6%) over 40 years. The mean VHI-10 score was 4.03 (SD±4.02), with a median of 3, below the cutoff point. In the VTDS, dryness was the most frequent and intense symptom, followed by sore and irritated throat. Tightness was the least reported sensation. There were significant positive correlations, from weak to moderate, between the total VHI-10 score and all VTDS symptoms. Conclusion: There was no self-reported voice handicap, but there was vocal tract discomfort, especially dryness, sore throat, and irritation. However, even without a perceived vocal handicap, the VHI-10 score increased with the intensity of vocal tract discomfort.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriel Trevizani, Djanira Nogueira dos Santos Fernandes, Jonathan Grassi, Elma Heitmann Mares Azevedo, Felipe Moreti, Michelle Guimaraes
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