Archive

---

Med. Pr. 2003;54(4)

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOICE THERAPY FOR TEACHERS WITH VOICE DISORDERS (p. 319-325)

OCENA SKUTECZNOśCI TERAPII GŁOSOWEJ W LECZENIU ZABURZEŃ GŁOSU U NAUCZYCIELI (ss. 319-325)

Mariola śliwińska-Kowalska, Marta Fiszer, Ewa Niebudek-Bogusz, Emilia Ziatkowska, Piotr Kotyło, Maja Domańska Z Centrum Profilaktyki i Leczenia Zaburzeń Głosu i Słuchu Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi

Abstract

Background. The lack of training in the voice emission technique is one of the major underlying causes of high prevalence of voice organ diseases in teachers. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of voice therapy in female teachers referred to phoniatricians with chronic dysphonia. Materials and Methods. The study group included 47 subjects, aged 23ś53 years, with voice organ diseases, including hyperfunctional dysphonia, insufficiency of glottis and vocal noduli. The control group comprised 36 female teachers with similar diseases who failed to participate in the suggested training procedure because of various reasons. Questionnaire surveys, phoniatric examination and videostroboscopic assessment were performed in the study group before and after voice therapy, and in the control group at a 3-month interval. Results. In the majority of self-rated pathological voice signs, and objectively assessed symptoms and voice parameters, a significant improvement was achieved in the study group as compared to controls. Moreover, a significant increase in the mean time of phonation was observed in the group with voice therapy. Besides,the number of subjects free from functional or organic larynx disorders evidently increased after voice therapy. After treatment, the number of patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia, glottal insufficiency and vocal noduli decreased by 50%, about 20% and 11%, respectively. Conclusions. The logopedic voice therapy is a very effective method of management of voice disorders in teachers. Achievement of correct breathing path, reduction of cervical muscle hypertention and elongation of phonation time seem to be the essential objective parameters for monitoring the effectiveness of voice emission training.

Key words

teachers, voice disorders, logopedic rehabilitation