Relationship between noise in classroom perception self-reported by university teachers and its influence on the voice

Abstract

Purpose: To relate self-reported perception of noise in classroom with voice disorder in teachers.Methods: 79 university teachers took part in this research, out of which 59 (74.68%) were female and20 (25.32%) male, with the average age being 49 years old, which related that the work place was noisy,in a questionnaire. A voice sample for each teacher was then collected and analyzed by means of theGRBASI scale. The noise complaint was then compared with self-reported voice alteration and speechtherapy, perception-hearing evaluation’s results. Results: all the teachers complained of the presence ofnoise. In regards to speech, 48.10% mentioned voice-alteration. The quantity of vocal symptoms variedand the co-relation between a self-reported vocal disorder with four or more symptoms was significant(p=0,0018). Vocal evaluation, done utilizing the GRBASI scale identified 27.42% of voices changed whenrelated to noise complaint, however very mildly and without a significant statistical impact. Conclusion:the so mentioned noise in the classroom was very prevalent in this research, although, when correlatedwith vocal alteration, no significant association was found.