Voice handicap, voice complaints of student teachers and the indicated risk factors in relation to the voice handicap

George Thomas, Felix de Jong

The aims of the study were to estimate voice complaints of student teachers (N="457);" to assess their voice handicap in comparison to the general population (N="144)" and to assess the pattern of student teachers awareness of risk factors in relation to their voice handicap. There was no significant difference in voice complaints (p >0.05). However, student teachers had significantly higher VHI scores than the general population (p ="0.034)." This showed student teachers reluctance to report voice complaints on a nominal scale (yes/no) even when they had a voice handicap on the ordinal scale VHI. Among the student teachers, those who reported voice complaints had significantly greater VHI scores than subjects who did not give voice complaints (p < 0.001). Among student teachers who did not give voice complaints 17% had VHI scores > 75 percentile that again suggested that voice complaints estimated on a nominal scale could have been underestimated. Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for the voice in relation to the voice handicap showed with increasing VHI scores the risk factors were indicated more frequently as having a negative influence on the voice. A significant correlation was observed between the number of risk factors indicated with increasing VHI scores (p < 0.001). The VHI may be more useful than nominal response questionnaires to study the voice of student teachers multi-dimensionally, and could give an indication of the awareness of the voice as the awareness of the risks to the voice were apparently parallel to the VHI scores.

Dr. George Thomas, Prof. Dr. FICRS de Jong
Neus- Keel- Oorziekten, Gelaat- en Halschirurgie
UZ St. Rafaël
Kapucijnenvoer 33
B-3000 Leuven
Tel +32 (0) 16 332342
Fax + 32 (0) 16 332335
f.dejong@kno.umcn.nl