Prevention of occupational dysphonia in scientific university personnel: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

AimThe aim of the study was to identify occupational and individual factors that influence the occurrence of voice problems in university staff and to investigate whether there is a link between voice problems and physical, psychological or functional changes?Subject and methodsThe voices of university teachers are exposed to increased stress. As members of the group of professional speakers, they have an increased prevalence of developing a voice disorder, so-called dysphonia. In the worst case, chronic, occupational dysphonia can occur. In an empirical-quantitative study in form of a cross-sectional study in Germany, an online questionnaire was used to determine whether university teaching staff is more frequently affected by voice problems than their colleagues in the administrative sector.ResultsThe results show that dry room climate, background noise, poor spatial acoustics, lack of breaks, and increasing age influence the occurrence of voice problems in university teachers. Teaching staff is therefore more frequently affected by impaired vocal function due to frequent throat clearing/coughing and a raspy, hoarse and scratchy voice than their administrative colleagues. In addition, there is a need for regular training and counselling.ConclusionIn order to prevent the development of occupational dysphonia among university teachers, diagnostic, practical and theoretical interventions for the target group are needed. To this end, the appropriate structural and personnel conditions must be created in the university environment.