Behavioral and Environmental Analysis of Self-Reported Dysphonic and Nondysphonic High School Music Teachers

Abstract

Dysphonia is considered to be a common hazard associated with occupational voice users. Teachers represent the highest percentage of clinical voice disorder patients. Voice injuries in teachers could result in lost wages due to missed work, additional costs for medications, therapy, and surgeries, and teacher attrition. The purpose of this study was to observe specific vocal habits among and between three self-reported dysphonic and three self-reported nondysphonic music teachers. I observed each participant for 3 consecutive days and conducted semistructured interviews following the observation period. The observed behaviors were analyzed to determine if teacher talk time, amount of time spent talking over specific classroom noises, and amount of teacher talk within a “very loud” classroom (>80 dBA) could be contributing factors for vocal attrition. Results revealed more hazardous talk episodes among dysphonic participants. Interview themes included stress and vocal awareness.