title: Analysis of aspects of quality of life in teachers' voice after discharged: longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term effects of voice therapy on the life quality of teachers who were discharged or abandoned the voice therapy for dysphonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a longitudinal study based on analysis of assessments with teachers of municipal schools in Belo Horizonte, who were referred to voice therapy and were discharged or abandoned the speech-language therapy for more than six months. A total of 33 teachers in the discharged group and 20 teachers in the abandoned group were contacted by phone and invited to participate in the study by answering the Voice activity and participation profile, which was forwarded to the researchers and sent via letter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the moment of the pre speech therapy, the discharged and abandoned groups were homogeneous, except in relation to daily communication parameter. Comparing the discharged group in the pre and post speech-language therapy, it was showed improvements in social communication parameter as well as in the total score. The discharged group presented worsening in self-perception parameter when comparing the average values in the post therapy and current moments, and the group abandoned presented worsening in work, social communication and total score when comparing to the average values in the pre therapy and current moments. The discharged and abandoned groups differ in the present moment in all investigated parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Speech-language therapy for dysphonia have long term positive effects on life quality and voice of teachers who were soon discharged from the therapy and in a period of two years on average. Teachers who have abandoned treatment and did not obtain improvement in the voice showed negative impact in life quality and voice in a time of 2 years and 2 months on average.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, School of Medicine, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josiane Mendes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, School of Medicine, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathália Ferreira
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Public Health of the Preventive and Social Medicine Department, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iara Barreto
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Hospital das Clínicas, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio Rocha
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Caldas
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Côrtes
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000628:therapy*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011788:Quality of Life; D013070:Speech Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality