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. 2014 Dec;53(4):304-10.
doi: 10.2478/sjph-2014-0033. Epub 2014 Oct 15.

Voice Disorders in Occupations with Vocal Load in Slovenia

Lučka Boltežar  1 , Maja Šereg Bahar  2
Affiliations

Voice Disorders in Occupations with Vocal Load in Slovenia

Lučka Boltežar et al. Zdr Varst. 2014 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Slovenian

Aim: The aim of this paper is to compare the prevalence of voice disorders and the risk factors for them in different occupations with a vocal load in Slovenia.

Methods: A meta-analysis of six different Slovenian studies involving teachers, physicians, salespeople, catholic priests, nurses and speech-and-language therapists (SLTs) was performed. In all six studies, similar questions about the prevalence of voice disorders and the causes for them were included.

Results: The comparison of the six studies showed that more than 82% of the 2347 included subjects had voice problems at some time during their career. The teachers were the most affected by voice problems. The prevalent cause of voice problems was the vocal load in teachers and salespeople and respiratory-tract infections in all the other occupational groups. When the occupational groups were compared, it was stated that the teachers had more voice problems and showed less care for their voices than the priests. The physicians had more voice problems and showed better consideration of vocal hygiene rules than the SLTs. The majority of all the included subjects did not receive instructions about voice care during education.

Conclusions: In order to decrease the prevalence of voice disorders in vocal professionals, a screening program is recommended before the beginning of their studies. Regular courses on voice care and proper vocal technique should be obligatory for all professional voice users during their career. The inclusion of dysphonia in the list of occupational diseases should be considered in Slovenia as it is in some European countries.

Cilj: Primerjati prevalenco glasovnih motenj in dejavnikov tveganja za njihov nastanek pri različnih poklicih v Sloveniji.

Metode: Narejena je bila meta analiza šestih različnih raziskav v Sloveniji, ki so vključevale zdravnike, učitelje, prodajalce, duhovnike, medicinske sestre in logopede. V vseh študijah so bili uporabljeni podobni vprašalniki, ki so zajemali vprašanja o pojavu glasovnih motenj in razlogih zanje.

Rezultati: Primerjava raziskav je pokazala, da je 82% od 2.347 vključenih že imelo glasovne težave v svoji karieri. Največ težav z glasom so imeli učitelji. Glavni vzrok hripavosti pri učiteljih in prodajalcih je bila glasovna obremenitev, pri preostalih poklicih pa akutne respiratorne okužbe. Primerjava poklicev je pokazala, da imajo učitelji več glasovnih težav kot duhovniki, manj tudi skrbijo za svoj glas. Primerjava zdravnikov in logopedov je pokazala, da imajo zdravniki več glasovnih motenj, čeprav bolje skrbijo za svoj glas. Večina vprašanih ni dobila navodil glede skrbi in rabe glasu med svojim študijem.

Zaključki: Za zmanjšanje pojava glasovnih motenj bi bili potrebni presejalni pregledi kandidatov za poklice z glasovno obremenitvijo še pred začetkom študija. Poklicni govorniki bi se morali tudi med opravljanjem svojega poklica dodatno izobraževati o skrbi za glas in pravilni vokalni tehniki. Glasovne motnje bi morali vključiti v seznam poklicnih bolezni, tako kot je to urejeno že ponekod v Evropi.

Keywords: Professional voice users; questionnaires; vocal load; voice care; voice disorders.

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