Consciousness of vocal risk factors in student teachers

F.I.C.R.S. de Jong, B. Luyckx, S. Martens

Adequate consciousness of vocal risks is of key importance in the treatment and prevention of voice problems. Teaching is a high risk profession for voice problems par excellence. The aim of this study was to make an inventory of the consciousness of various vocal risks in student teachers. A general questionnaire and the VHI inventory were sent to 1000 student teachers of primary education (first and last year of the training) and 642 were returned (64%). Students in the last year of the education reported more voice problems than students in the first year (52.8% versus 39.1 %; p="0.001)." In general, the students had inadequate consciousness of risks for their voice. Students who reported voice problems and students in the last year of their training showed the highest level of consciousness. This underlines the importance of attention to the consciousness of vocal risks and should be part of prevention programmes for student teachers.

F.I.C.R.S. de Jong, B. Luyckx, S. Martens
Dep. ENT, Head and Neck Surgery - Lab. Exp. ORL, K.U. Leuven, Belgium