title: How do teachers with self-reported voice problems differ from their peers with self-reported voice health?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This randomized case-control study compares teachers with self-reported voice problems to age-, gender-, and school-matched colleagues with self-reported voice health. The self-assessed voice function is related to factors known to influence the voice: laryngeal findings, voice quality, personality, psychosocial and coping aspects, searching for causative factors of voice problems in teachers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects and controls, recruited from a teacher group in an earlier questionnaire study, underwent examinations of the larynx by high-speed imaging and kymograms; voice recordings; voice range profile; audiometry; self-assessment of voice handicap and voice function; teaching and environmental aspects; personality; coping; burnout, and work-related issues. The laryngeal and voice recordings were assessed by experienced phoniatricians and speech pathologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects with self-assessed voice problems differed from their peers with self-assessed voice health by significantly longer recovery time from voice problems and scored higher on all subscales of the Voice Handicap Index-Throat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the cause of voice dysfunction in this group of teachers with self-reported voice problems is not found in the vocal apparatus or within the individual. The individual's perception of a voice problem seems to be based on a combination of the number of symptoms and of how often the symptoms occur, along with the recovery time. The results also underline the importance of using self-assessed reports of voice dysfunction.
authors: Department of Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Viveka.Lyberg_Ahlander@med.lu.se
authors: Viveka
authors: V
authors: Lyberg Åhlander
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Rydell
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Löfqvist
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007734:Kymography; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014833:Voice Quality