Prevalence of vocal fatigue and associated risk factors in university teachers

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vocal fatigue symptoms among university teachers using the Vocal Fatigue Index and to identify the potential risk factors associated with vocal fatigue symptoms. Two fifty-two University teachers (122 male and 130 female) between the age range of 24 to 60 years participated in the present study. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire addressing demographic, occupational, health and lifestyle factors and the English version of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI). Out of 252, 14% (n = 36) of the university teachers reported tiredness of voice and avoidance of voice use (factor 1 of VFI), whereas 23.8% (n = 60) reported physical discomfort symptoms (factor 2 of VFI). Dry mouth, need to raise voice while teaching, frequent cold, excessive stress and acid reflux had a significant association with reporting of vocal fatigue symptoms. University teachers experience a higher prevalence of vocal fatigue when measured using VFI. Health and environmental-related factors had a significant association with vocal fatigue symptoms than occupational-related factors.