Vocal Health Practices Among School Teachers: A Study From Chennai, India.

INTRODUCTION

A healthy vocal system is a prerequisite to produce a serviceable voice for any vocal profession. The concept of vocal health (VH) among teachers is worth exploring considering their known risk of developing voice disorders.

AIM

To provide socioculture-specific information on VH practices and nature of voice problems in teachers.

METHOD

A VH questionnaire was developed to elicit opinions toward one's own voice health and factors that indicated and contributed to impaired/poor VH from 384 school teachers.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

'Flexible voice' (23%), 'enduring voice' (22%), and 'good voice' (22%) were descriptions to indicate good VH by teachers. 'Vocal fatigue' (13%), 'dry throat' (9.4%), 'throat irritation' (4.7%), and 'pain while swallowing/speaking' (3.1%) were frequently reported throat sensations to indicate poor VH. For 30.2% of the teachers, voice mattered for professional needs. However, most of them managed to cope with voice problems through several home remedies and 'intentional/self-imposed neglect' despite their vocal difficulties. Sociocultural factors influencing these findings and scope to escalate voice problems in teachers as a public health issue are discussed.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION

Insight and perception of VH based on self-reports and information on voice practices among teachers pertinent to this geographical location provide scope to develop models for counseling and preventive treatment for voice problems.