title: Relationships between self-evaluations of voice and working conditions, background factors, and phoniatric findings in female teachers.
abstract: Self-evaluations of voice, working conditions, and results of phoniatric examination were studied in 78 female primary school teachers. Most teachers evaluated their vocal capabilities as 'normal'; nevertheless 1/3 reported two or more weekly symptoms. Unsatisfactory air quality, background noise, and stressful working conditions were seen as the most harmful environmental factors. A total of 14% of the subjects had organic laryngeal changes, 37% had mild changes, and 49% were found to be healthy. These findings did not correlate with self-evaluation of voice, vocal symptoms, or voice-related quality of life. Teaching experience or teaching hours per week did not correlate with laryngeal findings or symptoms. The results illustrate the complex nature of voice assessment and the need of assessment tools specially suited for functionally healthy voice professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Communication and Voice Research, University of Tampere, Finland. irma.ilomaki@uta.fi
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ilomäki
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leppänen
authors.forename: Leenamaija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kleemola
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tyrmi
authors.forename: Anne-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vilkman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014831:Voice; D017132:Workplace