ABSTRACT
AIM: The study aimed to document the practices followed as home remedies to treat voice-related symptoms among school teachers. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHOD: A total of 385 school teachers from Chennai, India, participated in the study. Data were collected through six open-ended questions to elicit information about conventional remedial practices for voice-related issues. Responses from the participants were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Around 88% of the teachers in the study preferred to adhere to home remedies as their first treatment of choice when encountering a voice problem. A few of the reported home remedies were simple preparations using turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), honey, sugar palm (Arenga pinnata), rock candy, mint (Mentha piperita), and cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), taken in singly or in combinations. The study also noted specific remedies for a range of vocal symptoms such as throat pain, irritation, or voice tiredness as per the belief systems of people speaking Tamil. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Home remedies, also known, as "Paati Vaidyam," are commonly used by Indian households to address health problems, including voice-related issues. The study indicated the prevalence and popularity of using home remedies for voice-related issues among teachers. The scientific logic or utility of these practices was explored in this study based on available information in voice literature. The information obtained is valuable for counseling (explaining local practice methods and available evidence) and education, keeping in mind the belief system, and practice methods of Tamils while imparting vocal hygiene education to the teachers.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A healthy vocal system is a prerequisite to produce a serviceable voice for any vocal profession. The concept of vocal health (VH) among teachers is worth exploring considering their known risk of developing voice disorders. AIM: To provide socioculture-specific information on VH practices and nature of voice problems in teachers. METHOD: A VH questionnaire was developed to elicit opinions toward one's own voice health and factors that indicated and contributed to impaired/poor VH from 384 school teachers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 'Flexible voice' (23%), 'enduring voice' (22%), and 'good voice' (22%) were descriptions to indicate good VH by teachers. 'Vocal fatigue' (13%), 'dry throat' (9.4%), 'throat irritation' (4.7%), and 'pain while swallowing/speaking' (3.1%) were frequently reported throat sensations to indicate poor VH. For 30.2% of the teachers, voice mattered for professional needs. However, most of them managed to cope with voice problems through several home remedies and 'intentional/self-imposed neglect' despite their vocal difficulties. Sociocultural factors influencing these findings and scope to escalate voice problems in teachers as a public health issue are discussed. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION: Insight and perception of VH based on self-reports and information on voice practices among teachers pertinent to this geographical location provide scope to develop models for counseling and preventive treatment for voice problems.
