gms | German Medical Science

Background: Examination of vocal fitness is not required by law before the beginning of a teaching career. The goal of this study is to record the incidence of vocal disorders among various teaching occupations and to determine necessary measures to be taken.

Method: 20 university lecturers, 20 teachers of secondary schools and 20 teachers of primary schools between the ages of 28 and 65 years were interviewed about their vocal training, subjective vocal stress, perceived teaching self-efficacy and job-related stress, and their vocal performance was examined by auditory voice evaluation, voice field, a test of vocal stress, sound analysis, and laryngoscopic and stroboscopic tests.

Results: Anamnesis revealed that 36.7% of the teachers had no vocal problems, 18.3% reported problems in conjunction with common colds and 45% reported intermittent or chronic problems. 35% had received vocal training, and 65% felt a high degree of vocal stress on the job. The three teaching groups did not differ in perceived teaching self-efficacy. The evaluations of vocal performance resulted in no, little or considerable disturbance of the voice: among university lecturers (35%/45%/20%), secondary school teachers (50%/45%/5%), primary school teachers (45%/30%/25%).

Conclusions: The study presented voice disorders in 50% of the teachers. For this reason vocal fitness should be assessed before students begin studies for a teaching degree.Vocal training for teachers is wise. Logopedic treatment should be begun promptly at the appearance of complaints.