PURPOSE:
to verify the association between teaching experience and voice self-assessment among professors.
METHODS:
forty-two professors took part in this study and answered a questionnaire to characterize the sample and identify the vocal sensations/symptoms and filled out the Vocal Activity and Participation Profile protocol.
RESULTS:
the predominantly female subjects had little teaching experience given the median of 8.5 years. The authors did not set a minimum experience for participant experience. The most commonly reported vocal symptoms were throat dryness (66.6%) and hoarseness (40.4%). Teaching experience and the domains and total scores in the Vocal Activity and Participation Profile protocol were not significantly correlated. The domain scores of effects on daily communication (correlation value r = -0.08 and p value = 0.63), on social communication (correlation value r = 0.00 and p value = 0.99), participation restriction score (correlation value r = -0.20 and p value = -0.21), and total score (correlation value r = -0.001 and p value = 0.96) were negatively, i.e., inversely correlated.
CONCLUSION:
although the sample studied had voice symptom complaints, this does not limit their professional or daily activities. Thus, in this study the professional voice use still does not compromise voice-related quality of life as reported by the professors.
Public Health; Voice; Faculty; Occupational Health; Quality of Life
