Variations in intensity, fundamental frequency, and voicing for teachers in occupational versus non-occupational settings.

Abstract

This study creates a more concise picture of the vocal demands placed on teachers by comparing occupational voice use with non-occupational voice use. The National Center for Voice and Speech voice dosimetry databank was used to calculate phonation time dose as well as average dB SPL and F0. Occupational voice use (9am–3pm) and non-occupational voice use (4pm–10pm, weekends) were compared from 57 subjects (2 weeks each, 8400+ h). Five key findings were uncovered: (1) previous findings of occupational (30%) and non-occupational (14%) voicing were substantiated; (2) teachers experienced a wide range of occupational voicing percentages (33%, SD ±11%); (3) the occupational voice was on average only about 1-dB SPL louder than the non-occupational voice and remained constant throughout the day; (4) the occupational voice exhibited an increased pitch, trending upward throughout the day; and (5) apparent gender differences in voicing percentages, as well as changes in dB SPL and F0, were shown. Data regarding voicing percentages, F0, and dB SPL provide critical insight into teachers’ vocal health. Further, because non-occupational voice use is added to an already vocally overloaded voice, it may add key insights into recovery patterns and should be the focus of future studies.