ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Imams, who lead prayers for Muslims, are considered among professional voice users. They have high vocal demand during their prayer times, Khutbah, and educating sessions for Muslims. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of voice disorders in Imams and to analyze their psychosocial aspects in relation to their profession using the Arabic Voice Handicap Index. Setting and Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: Arabic Voice Handicap Index-10 (A-VHI-10) and a general voice questionnaire were administered to 93 Imams and 82 control subjects from Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A-VHI-10 scores were compared between both Imams and the control group. Also, A-VHI scores of Imams were compared considering different variables included in the general questionnaire. Results: Sixty-five percent of Imams reported voice-related problems. The A-VHI-10 showed significant difference between Imams and the control group for both total score and the three VHI domains; functional, physical, and emotional. However, there was no significant difference between VHI-10 scores of the Imams group when compared considering different job-related variables. Conclusion: Sixty-five percent of Imams included in the study reported to have voice-related problems. There is a significant difference between Imams and control subjects regarding their self-perception of voice handicap. However, it appears that some psychosocial aspects of Imams’ profession have no significant impact on their voice quality.
ABSTRACT
Introdução: A freqüência, a gravidade e as repercussões sociais dos problemas de voz o transformaram em uma questão relevante para a Saúde Pública e para a Saúde do Trabalhador. A análise dos fatores de risco relacionados à voz profissional deve incluir tanto questões individuais como aspectos ambientais e organizacionais. Seu uso incorreto, originando ajustes inapropriados no modo de produção vocal, e a grande demanda vocal são fatores importantes para o desencadeamento de alterações no aparelho fonador dos professores. Uma parcela significativa deles desenvolve sintomas laríngeos, faríngeos e/ou cervicais de diferentes tipos e graus de severidade, afetando seu desempenho vocal. O absenteísmo e freqüentes pedidos de licença médica, além das incapacidades permanentes neste grupo, sobrecarregam os serviços de saúde e de perícia médica. A Lista Brasileira de Doenças Relacionadas ao Trabalho, produzida pelo Ministério da Saúde e adotada pelo Ministério da Previdência, não incluiu os transtornos da voz relacionados ao trabalho e a legislação vigente sobre aptidão e inaptidão vocal para o trabalho é ainda insuficiente e imprecisa. Objetivos: Avaliar diagnósticos, causas e critérios de readaptação funcional por problemas de voz de professores da rede pública municipal de ensino da cidade do Rio de Janeiro durante o ano de 2007...
Introduction: The frequency, severity and impact of social problems due to voice problems turned into an issue for Public and Occupational Health. The analysis of risk factors related to professional voice use should include not only individual issues but also organizational and environmental aspects. Inappropriate settings for the mode of voice production due to incorrect use of the voice, and high vocal demand are important factors for the triggering of changes in teachers' vocal apparatus. Laryngeal, pharyngealand/or cervical symptoms of different types and degrees and changes in vocalperformance are developed by a significant amount of them. The absences and frequent requests for medical leave, in addition to permanent disability in this group, overwhelmthe health services and medical expertise. The List of Brazilian Diseases Related to Work, produced by the Ministry of Health and adopted by the Ministry of Welfare, does not include work related voice disorders and legislation about vocal ability and inability to work are still insufficient and imprecise. Objectives: To assess diagnosis, causes and criteria for functional readaptation of teachers with voice problems in the public schoolsof Rio de Janeiro City during the year of 2007...
Subject(s)
Humans , Voice Disorders/pathology , Occupational Diseases/pathology , Occupational Diseases/rehabilitation , Education, Primary and Secondary , Faculty , Sick Leave/legislation & jurisprudence , Larynx/pathology , Occupational HealthABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There have been no systematic studies addressing the voice problems among Korean classical singers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the voice problems in Korean classical singers and provide a guide in the management of their voice problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The voice problems in 222 classical singers who visited Ewha woman's university hospital with dysphonia were analyzed, using laryngovideostroboscopy, aerodynamic and acoustic analyzer. RESULTS: The most common voice symptom in Korean classical singers was hoarseness (62.1%) and their most common lesion in the vocal folds was vocal nodule (42.8%). In classical singers who had vocal nodule, there was no significant reduction of expiratory pressure (p<0.05), but the mean air flow rate was increased (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between classical singers who had vocal nodule and normal adults in jitter, shimmer and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that numerous voice problems can be present even in trained classical singers. Also, we recognized the fact that normal voice may occur even in the presence of abnormal laryngeal findings in trained professional classical singers because of their training to protect and refine their vocal skills. Therefore, in future studies, it may be useful for laryngologists to obtain a baseline assessment of laryngeal function in trained classical singers to permit accurate diagnosis of the causes of voice dysfunction in voice professionals whose baseline laryngeal behavior may be unusual.