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Effects of Virtual Teaching on Swedish Teachers' Voices During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Evitts, Paul M; Allebeck, Maria; Åberg, Olivia Esmerelda.
Afiliación
  • Evitts PM; Communication Sciences and Disorders Program, The Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg, Middletown, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: pxe5073@psu.edu.
  • Allebeck M; Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Åberg OE; Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
J Voice ; 2022 Dec 30.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36702663
PURPOSE: Since the beginning of 2020, teachers all over the world have had to switch over to virtual teaching because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This change of teaching mode has unknown consequences on the vocal health of teachers who already experience voice disorders at a rate nearly double that of the general population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate teachers' self-reported voice problems during virtual teaching compared to face-to-face teaching and how they are associated to perceived risk factors in the work environment. METHOD: Participants included 141 teachers (49 males, 92 females) in high schools and higher education in Sweden who responded to an internet-based survey. Information was collected about participants' self-reported voice handicap using a translated version of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Information about self-reported VTD (Vocal Tract Discomfort) symptoms and dysphonia was collected in regard to both modes of teaching (virtual vs face-to- face). The survey also included questions on risk factors related to vocal health. RESULTS: Self-reported voice handicap and VTD symptoms were slightly lower during periods of virtual teaching compared to periods of face-to-face teaching. There was a lower frequency of dysphonia symptoms during virtual teaching compared to face-to- face teaching, however the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, 34% of teachers reported experiencing more voice problems when teaching face-to-face while 15% reported more voice problems when teaching virtually. The most reported VTD symptoms during both virtual and face-to-face teaching were having a dry and a tight throat. The dysphonia symptoms with the highest reported frequency were a tense voice and hoarseness in both modes of teaching. Risk factors associated with higher prevalence of voice symptoms and/or higher levels of voice handicap during virtual teaching were air quality and straining the voice while teaching face-to-face. In addition, those teachers who reported more voice problems while teaching virtually also reported feeling more stressed. CONCLUSION: The results showed a slight decrease in voice symptoms and voice handicap during virtual teaching compared to face-to-face teaching. Although multifactorial, results suggest that a potential positive effect may be attributed to better air quality in the work environment and more favorable acoustic conditions preventing teachers from straining their voice.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Tipo de estudio: Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: J Voice Asunto de la revista: OTORRINOLARINGOLOGIA Año: 2022 Tipo del documento: Article Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Tipo de estudio: Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: J Voice Asunto de la revista: OTORRINOLARINGOLOGIA Año: 2022 Tipo del documento: Article Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos