title: Prevalence of Voice Disorders and Associated Risk Factors in Teachers and Nonteachers in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Teachers are at increased risk for development of voice disorders. Because there is no published study on Iranian teachers, the aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of voice disorders among teachers and nonteachers in Iran and define the causing risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 104 teachers and 41 nonteacher participants, whose jobs did not involve vocal effort, completed a questionnaire regarding to vocal complaint and four relevant risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to our gained data, 54.6% of teachers experienced vocal complaints during their work, although this value was 21.1% for the nonteacher group (P < 0.001). Moreover, investigating the prevalence of voice disorders during other periods of life was performed. Analyzing the questionnaire data indicated a significant higher vocal load risk factor for teachers (70.77%; standard deviation [SD], 29.48), in comparison with their nonteacher counterparts (27.44%; SD, 37.83; P < 0.001). In addition, our study revealed the significance of vocal load, as well as physical and environmental risk factors in the development of voice disorders in teachers with voice complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present findings indicated a higher epidemiology of voice problems among teachers in comparison with nonteacher individuals and introduced vocal load as the most important risk factor in development of voice disorder in Iranian teachers. Accordingly, it is recommended to pay special attention to negative effects of vocal load, although environmental and physical factors are also of importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifpanahi
authors.affiliation: Laryngology Fellowship Program, Division of Laryngology, Rasoul Akram Medical Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: panahi29@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali-Ashraf
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torabinezhad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarrafzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Therapy, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sobhani-Rad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganjuie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070777:School Teachers; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ergonomy; Prevalence; Risk factors; Teachers; Voice disorder