Epidemiology of voice disorders among male school teachers in Khamis Mushayt city, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: A teacher with voice disorders is displaying a form of limitation in the teaching activity. Objectives: To assess the magnitude of voice disorders among teachers and to identify the possible risk factors associated with voice disorders. Materials: A total of 380 teachers were included. The researcher developed a questionnaire for data collection which comprised personal characteristics and symptoms of voice complaints during the last scholastic year. The Voice Handicap Index was used for assessment of voice and its effects on the life of a teacher. Results: Most teachers experienced voice related symptoms during the last year (80.9%). Some had 1-2 symptoms (43.2%) while others had more than two symptoms (37.6%). The most frequent voice-related symptoms were dry throat (42.1%), sore throat (33.5%) and hoarseness of voice (32.9%). More than one third of teachers consulted a physician for their voice-related problems (35%). Moderate to serious severity of voice handicap index were reported by 8.2% of the teachers. There was an increasing prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap according to age group (p=0.004). Practice of non-healthy habits (e.g., smoking of cigarette, sheesha or moaassal and qat chewing) was associated with significantly higher prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap (p