Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Potential Risk Factors and Prevalence of Voice Symptoms in Students Starting Their Teacher Education

Ohlsson, Ann Christine ; Demitz-Helin, Gun ; Furu, Ann Christin ; Hällgren, Inger and Karjalainen, Suvi LU (2021) In Journal of Voice 35(2). p.1-323
Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of voice problems and potential risk factors in teacher students at the start of their education. A total of 1494 students from seven teacher education schools participated in the study. The students answered a questionnaire about 11 risk factors, and one with six questions about voice symptoms, Screen6, and 30 statements in the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Students reporting at least 2 weekly voice symptoms in Screen6 were assigned to the group with voice problems. Significance level was P < 0.05. Results: prevalence of risk factors was about the same in the seven groups of teacher students except the group with highest proportion of women that also showed the highest... (More)

The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of voice problems and potential risk factors in teacher students at the start of their education. A total of 1494 students from seven teacher education schools participated in the study. The students answered a questionnaire about 11 risk factors, and one with six questions about voice symptoms, Screen6, and 30 statements in the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Students reporting at least 2 weekly voice symptoms in Screen6 were assigned to the group with voice problems. Significance level was P < 0.05. Results: prevalence of risk factors was about the same in the seven groups of teacher students except the group with highest proportion of women that also showed the highest proportion of voice problems, 38%. Prevalence of voice problems in the total group was 17%. Comparison of students with or without voice problems showed that all factors except one were more prevalent among students with voice problems and women were overrepresented. Mean total VHI score was 22 in students with voice problems and eight in students without voice problems. Multiple regression analyses showed that frequent throat infections, hearing problems, previous speech therapy, or voice training were the potential risk factors that had the strongest association with voice symptoms as well as with total score in VHI. Conclusions: results from this study show that it is common that teacher students experience voice problems already at the start of their education and potential risk factors associated with voice problems are identified. Knowing that teaching is a high-risk profession for developing voice disorders, it is crucial that teacher students should receive compulsory preprofessional voice education including voice ergonomics and voice training.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Potential risk factors, Prevalence of voice symptoms, Screen6, Teacher students, Voice Handicap Index
in
Journal of Voice
volume
35
issue
2
pages
1 - 323
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:31515195
  • scopus:85071868355
ISSN
0892-1997
DOI
10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.008
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0ebb7595-0559-4a65-8f51-1365ce27a950
date added to LUP
2019-09-19 12:39:26
date last changed
2024-05-28 23:17:52
@article{0ebb7595-0559-4a65-8f51-1365ce27a950,
  abstract     = {{<p>The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of voice problems and potential risk factors in teacher students at the start of their education. A total of 1494 students from seven teacher education schools participated in the study. The students answered a questionnaire about 11 risk factors, and one with six questions about voice symptoms, Screen6, and 30 statements in the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Students reporting at least 2 weekly voice symptoms in Screen6 were assigned to the group with voice problems. Significance level was P &lt; 0.05. Results: prevalence of risk factors was about the same in the seven groups of teacher students except the group with highest proportion of women that also showed the highest proportion of voice problems, 38%. Prevalence of voice problems in the total group was 17%. Comparison of students with or without voice problems showed that all factors except one were more prevalent among students with voice problems and women were overrepresented. Mean total VHI score was 22 in students with voice problems and eight in students without voice problems. Multiple regression analyses showed that frequent throat infections, hearing problems, previous speech therapy, or voice training were the potential risk factors that had the strongest association with voice symptoms as well as with total score in VHI. Conclusions: results from this study show that it is common that teacher students experience voice problems already at the start of their education and potential risk factors associated with voice problems are identified. Knowing that teaching is a high-risk profession for developing voice disorders, it is crucial that teacher students should receive compulsory preprofessional voice education including voice ergonomics and voice training.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ohlsson, Ann Christine and Demitz-Helin, Gun and Furu, Ann Christin and Hällgren, Inger and Karjalainen, Suvi}},
  issn         = {{0892-1997}},
  keywords     = {{Potential risk factors; Prevalence of voice symptoms; Screen6; Teacher students; Voice Handicap Index}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{1--323}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Voice}},
  title        = {{Potential Risk Factors and Prevalence of Voice Symptoms in Students Starting Their Teacher Education}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.008}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.008}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}