How could teachers’ vocal well-being be improved?
This lecture summarizes the results of a study which aimed to investigate the effects of a voice hygiene lecture, voice training and voice massage treatment on the vocal working capacity and well-being of Finnish female teachers. Ninety primary school teachers (mean age 40.4 years, range 26-57 years, average teaching experience 15 years, range 1-33 years) volunteered as subjects. Background information (age, general health, vocal education, size of the group of pupils, vocally loading hobbies, type and prevalence of various symptoms of vocal fatigue etc.) was collected with a questionnaire in internet. On the basis of the background information, one third suffered from two or more frequently occurring symptoms of vocal fatigue. In the beginning of the autumn term the subjects went through a phoniatric inspection to assess their laryngeal status. According to this inspection, 43 subjects were phoniatrically healthy, i.e. there were no organic lesions visible in the vocal folds, 35 showe
