Occupational and individual risk factors for dysphonia in teachers.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades several groups of researchers have been interested in describing and understanding vocal morbidity in teachers in order to explain the large number of teachers diagnosed with dysphonia and account for the absenteeism attributed to vocal disability. AIMS: To determine the proportion of teachers who reported a diagnosis of dysphonia and measure associations between individual and contextual factors and the event of interest. METHODS: Teachers were recruited from the city of Belo Horizonte and invited to complete a web-based institutional intranet questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 649 teachers responded; 32% (CI 28.5-35.5) reported that they had received a physician diagnosis of dysphonia. This prevalence was significantly higher among female teachers (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.33; CI 1.41-3.85), and groups who reported limited technical resources and equipment (PR 1.56; CI 1.14-2.15), a diagnosis of gastritis (PR 1.59; CI 1.28-1.98), not being summoned for an annual physician examination (PR 0.47; CI 0.32-0.68), or absenteeism (PR 1.39; CI 1.06-1.81). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of dysphonia in teachers was not associated with any individual variables, except for sex and comorbidity (diagnosis of gastritis). Limited technical resources and equipment were associated with dysphonia and suggests policy change is important in preventing dysphonia.

Voice related quality of life after botulinum toxin injection for spasmodic dysphonia.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal Focal Dystonia (LFD) leads to a type of voice with a strained and tense quality which has a neurological origin, affecting the social-emotional realms of the individuals, and their quality of life. AIMS: Measure the voice-related quality of life of patients with Adductor LFD pre and post-treatment with Botox, injection followed by voice therapy, using the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Adductor 11 female patients aged between 33 and 74 years with a diagnosis of Adductor LFD were evaluated. All patients underwent a neurological evaluation. Laryngoscopy was performed with both rigid and flexible endoscopes. Speech and Language evaluation followed the Evaluation of Voice Protocol, proposed by Behlau, Pontes (1995). The American V-RQOL measure was utilized. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated significant difference (p < 0.05). 81.8% of patients showed higher scores post-Botox, for the social-emotional and physical domain. In the overall V-RQOL scores 72.7% of patients showed greater scores post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There was an improvement in the quality of life for these patients post-treatment. The V-RQOL proved to be an efficient tool to measure the treatment outcomes of LFD pre and post botulinum toxin injection.