Voice complaints for physical education teachers and class teachers The Voice Handicap Index used to examine the voice related quality of life compared among two types of teachers

Abstract

Introduction: Due to different internal and external causes teachers seem to be at higher risk to develop a voice problem than the general population and other professional voice users. Because previous research can give no definite answer to the question if pe teachers are more prone to develop voice problems than traditional class teachers further research is needed on this subject. The aim of this study is to examine the voice related quality of life for class teachers and teachers in Physical Education (pe). Method: The voice related quality of life will be measured using the Voice Handicap Index, a questionnaire of 30 propositions. This questionnaire is filled out by 41 class teachers and 62 physical education teachers. Results: The median VHI score of the class teacher was 8,0 and of the pe teachers 9,5. When performing a Mann-Withney test with this results no significant difference between both types of teachers is found p=0.167. No significant difference for gender is found (pe teacher p=0.17; class teachers p=0.06) Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the voice related quality of life between the class teachers and the pe teachers.