Annals of Epidemiology
Volume 14, Issue 10 , Pages 786-792, November 2004

Occupational risk factors associated with voice disorders among teachers

  • Susan L. Thibeault, PhD, CCC/SLP

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. Susan L. Thibeault, Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, 3C120 School of Medicine, The University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132. Tel.: (801) 588-3973; Fax: (801) 585-5744.
    • ,
  • Ray M. Merrill, PhD, MPH
    • ,
  • Nelson Roy, PhD, CCC/SLP
    • ,
  • Steven D. Gray, MD
    • ,
  • Elaine M. Smith, PhD, MPH

From the Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (S.L.T., S.D.G.); Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (R.M.M.); Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (N.R.); and College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (E.M.S.).

Received 10 October 2003; accepted 26 February 2004. published online 19 August 2004.

Purpose

This study was designed to determine the occupational risk factors associated with voice disorders among schoolteachers, a high-risk population for developing voice problems.

Methods

Telephone interviews were completed by 1243 teachers from Utah and Iowa. Response rates were 98% and 95%, respectively. Bivariate analyses were computed and assessed using chi-square test and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, and logistic regression analyses were performed and resulting odds ratios assessed using 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Teachers of vocal music, drama, other performing arts and chemistry were at significantly greater risk of having a voice disorder (OR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.2–4.0; OR=2.1, 95% CI: 0.9–4.8; OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.0–2.4; OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4), while teachers of special and vocational education had a significantly lower risk (OR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.7; OR=0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.9). When adjusted for the intensity of vocalization, only teachers of chemistry were significantly at risk (OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.5) while teachers of special education continued to have less of a risk (OR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.8). Chronic voice disorders were more prevalent among teachers of vocal music (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 2.2–7.9) and less prevalent among teachers of vocational education (OR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.95).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that teachers of specific courses are at greater risk of developing a voice disorder.

Key words: Voice Disorders, Teachers, Occupational Disease, Risk Factors

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 This work was supported by the NIH NIDCD R01-DC2285.

PII: S1047-2797(04)00060-2

doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2004.03.004

Annals of Epidemiology
Volume 14, Issue 10 , Pages 786-792, November 2004

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