Prevalence and Risk Factors for Voice Problems Among Soccer Coaches.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of voice problems has been investigated in various occupations, but research investigating sports coaches' voice problems seems to be limited even if coaches are an occupational group whose work requires heavy voice use. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of voice problems among soccer coaches and identify risk factors that can contribute to the problems. METHODS/DESIGN: The data were collected with a web questionnaire that was sent to 500 soccer coaches. Overall, 109 male coaches, who practiced soccer coaching to various extents, responded to the questionnaire. The presence of six vocal symptoms was investigated, as well as environmental factors and health-related factors that may have an influence on the voice. RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of voice problems among soccer coaches was high. In total, 28.4% of the participants reported two or more frequently occurring vocal symptoms. The most common symptom was throat clearing or coughing followed by voice becomes low or hoarse. The coaches who had vocally demanding main occupations alongside their coaching tasks had an increased risk for voice problems. Moreover, a significant association was found between chronic rhinitis and frequently occurring vocal symptoms, as well as between stress and frequently occurring vocal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Given the extent of voice problems and the fact that soccer coaches have a vocally demanding occupation, it would be important to increase the awareness of voice use among this group. Soccer coaches are in immense need of more information about voice ergonomics during their coaching education.

The prevalence of voice disorders among day care center teachers compared with nurses: a questionnaire and clinical study.

The acceptance of voice disorders by day care center teachers as an occupational disease is not an invariably established practice. This is due to the lack of reliable evidence of a higher risk for voice disorders in this profession. To find out the risk of voice disorders, an epidemiological study was conducted among day care center teachers (n = 262), using hospital nurses (n = 108) as a control group. Symptoms were charted by a questionnaire. In a clinical examination made by a laryngologist, the voice quality was assessed and the laryngeal status noted. Teachers at day care centers had significantly more voice disorders than did nurses. Vocal nodules and laryngitis findings appeared significantly more frequently among day care center teachers than among those in the control group. The results prove voice disorders to be more frequent among day care center teachers than among control group subjects, and also that the main cause for this may be a higher vocal loading among day care center teachers than among control group subjects.

A fast and easy screening method for voice disorders among teacher students.

A recent study concerning voice disorders among future teachers showed that about 20% of the students had a voice disorder. Most of the disorders were organic. In the current study, we describe a voice-screening method that can be administered by the health care personnel in order to select students for further examination by the speech language therapist and/or phoniatrician. The screening method consists of a perceptual assessment of voice quality and a questionnaire concerning vocal symptoms. As criterion for further medical investigation and voice therapy, we selected a score of 35 mm or above on a visual analogue scale assessing Grade, i.e. overall grade of hoarseness and/or two or more weekly or more often occurring vocal symptoms. The results showed that health care personnel with some training in assessing voices using the questionnaire are competent to perform a rough voice screening on students.

Prevalence of voice disorders among future teachers.

An epidemiological study was conducted in order to find out the prevalence of voice disorders among students studying to be teachers. Vocal symptoms were inquired of 226 students. Their voices were assessed perceptually by a speech therapist and those who had abnormal voice quality or reported several vocal symptoms were referred to a clinical examination by a laryngologist. The results showed that 20% of this population reported two or more vocal symptoms during the previous year and that 19% had an organic voice disorder. This reinforces the need for clinical evaluation of students with vocal symptoms and more vocal training in the teacher education programs.