Anxiety in female teachers with dysphonia: correlation between the voice handicap index and anxiety state

Abstract

EnAbstract Background Female teachers are at particular risk of developing voice disorders. They are more likely to have psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression. Aim To assess the presence of anxiety in female teachers with dysphonia, paying particular attention to the association between the patient’s self-evaluation of her voice handicap and anxiety state. Participants and methods Thirty-nine female teachers with dysphonia were subjected to a voice assessment protocol, Arabic voice handicap index (VHI), to quantify the degree of handicap related to voice disorders and assessment of anxiety using the Manifest Anxiety Scale of Taylor. The results obtained were compared with the results of 34 normal female teachers who were subjected to the same assessment protocols. Results There were highly significant differences between both the groups in the scores of VHI and the anxiety scale. Anxiety showed a significant correlation with the duration of dysphonia, the grade of dysphonia, the total score of VHI, and its three domains. Conclusion Anxiety is frequent among dysphonic female teachers, with a significant association between the patient’s self-evaluation of her voice handicap and anxiety state. Such a high association advocates for both vocal education programs and psychiatric consultations.