Purpose: Speech and language therapists are considered professional voice users and therefore are at risk for occupational voice disorders. This study aims to find out the frequency of voice disorders among SLTs and examine the variables that constitute risk factors and contribute to voice disorders among speech and language therapists.
Method: Speech and language therapists are also a group at risk for experiencing occupational voice disorders. In order to examine the voice disorder status and risk factors among therapists, the Survey of Voice Disorders and Risk Factors Among Speech and Language Therapists, a survey prepared by the authors based on Erarslan (2016)’s ‘Investigation of Voice Disorders and Risk Factors Among Academicians” was administered to the participants. In the survey, in addition to personal information, questions were asked about, work life and environment, general habits, habits about voice usage and clinical symptoms. 21 males and 95 females, a total of 116 participants participated in the study. The independent variables were age, gender, work life and environment, general habits and habits regarding voice usage. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square Test and the descriptive statistical values of the data were also included. The dependent variable was complaint of pain/irritation in the throat.
Results: 61.2% of the SLTs indicated that they experienced pain/irritation in the throat during or at the end of the day. The number of working days per week in the variable in work life and environment and speaking loudly during the day in the variable work life of environment and voice usage habits were found to be statistically significant in dermining the presence the complaint of pain/irritation in the throat. No significant difference was found between the other independent variables and the feeling of pain and irritation in the throat. Although not statistically significant, this study found higher larengeal irritation in women than in men, as in similar studies in the literature. In terms of work experience, the group who reported the highest number of pain/irritation in the throat was the group with 1-5 years of work experience. When asked if they took precautions to prevent voice disorders, 72.4% responded that they did. Among the precautions, vocal hygene rated highest by 68% and doing vocal warm-up exercises rated second by 27.4%.
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Conclusion: These findings highlight that for speech and language therapists, high number of working days and using a loud voice among voice usage habits can be considered as risks factors for voice disorders.
Keywords
voice disorders, professional voice users, speech and language therapists
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