Abstract

FREITAS, Susana Vaz. Dysphonia in teachers of the first grade of education . Arq Med [online]. 2006, vol.20, n.5-6, pp.145-152. ISSN 2183-2447.

Objective: To quantify the prevalence of dysphonia in a sample of teachers of the north of Portugal and to determine what factors and symptoms are associated to it. Study design: Cross-sectional study of teachers in the public service, with lecture component, of the first grade of education (primary). Participants: Participated 1158 of the 2333 teachers contacted (proportion of answers: 49.6%). The 922 female teachers filled a general questionnaire built to this study, with questions that allowed the identification, professional characterisation, auto-perception and symptoms of dysphonia, and description of the habits and lifestyle. Measures of results: Prevalence of auto-perceived dysphonia and associated symptoms, for each of the personal and occupational factors. Results: The prevalence of dysphonia in teachers was 10.6%, growing significantly with age (p= 0.004) and with the number of years of teaching (p=0.002). The more perceived symptoms were from laryngeal sensibility (pain - 62.8%, dryness - 61.9%) and hoarseness (64.3%). All (except pain and burn up) reflected significantly in the prevalence of dysphonia (p< 0.001). Conclusions: Teachers have a high prevalence of dysphonia, which rises with age and years of teaching activity. The habits and lifestyle characteristics did not have a significant role in the variable studied.

Keywords : teachers; voice; dysphonia; prevalence; risk factors.

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