ABSTRACT
Voice health problems are considered one of the important occupational hazards affecting school teachers. These problems can negatively affect health and performance of teachers. This study aimed at revealing the nature and prevalence of vocal symptoms and voice disorders among school teachers in Kuwait, and identifying risk factors that contribute to voice disorders and their impact on teachers. A cross sectional study was conducted. The stratified random sampling method was adopted to select 1077 teachers from 36 schools covering primary, middle and secondary school stages. A self administered questionnaire was utilized to collect data. It was found that 17.5% of studied teachers suffered from vocal disorders during one scholastic year. Female teachers were more likely affected than male teachers [26.1% compared with 5.9%]. Teachers in primary schools tended to have higher prevalence of vocal disorders than those in the middle or in the secondary schools [24.4% compared with 12.8% and 14.2% respectively]. Easy tiredness and hoarseness of voice were the most prevalent vocal symptoms [39.2% and 37.1%] among teachers. Out of the total studied teachers, 17.5% consulted a physician, 12.4% had voice related sickness absence while only 0.7% were hospitalized because of voice health problem. Those regularly using soothing agents for the throat constituted 7.6% of the total teachers. A high prevalence of voice health problems exists among school teachers in Kuwait. Female gender, noisy classes, positive history of past smoking, being Kuwaiti and free of chronic diseases in addition to practicing external activities using voice and teaching in a school with male gender proved to be significant risk predictors of vocal cord disorders among teachers