Claire Sanssené1, Julie Bardi2, Muriel Welby-Gieusse3. 1. Ecole d'orthophonie de la faculté de Médecine Toulouse-Rangueil, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: claire.sanssene@hotmail.fr. 2. Cabinet d'orthophonie, Lorient, France. 3. Cabinet médical de phoniatrie, Toulouse, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Voice disorders are frequently observed among professionals using their voice as their main working tool (ie, occupational voice users). The objective of this study is to establish the prevalence of voice disorders in tour guides and to evaluate the risk factors associated with these disorders. STUDY DESIGN: An online survey, containing the VHI-10 test, was sent to the metropolitan France guides in November 2017. The results were analyzed using answers of tour guides dispatched in all metropolitan French departments. RESULTS: We received 465 replies. Voice disorders were highly prevalent (up to 21.29%) according to the VHI-10 and were comparable to observed rates in other professional categories (teachers and telecommunicators). The proportion of guides complaining about voice disorders episodes (44.94%) is greater than in the overall general population. Specific work-related factors emerged in this study. First, the use of a high-intensity voice for more than 6 hours a week is a factor significantly associated with a higher risk of having a pathological score at VHI-10. Second, a significant proportion of the guides noted that noise pollution and changes in temperature affected their vocal quality. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these results, we can conclude that the tour guide profession is subject to voice-related risks. The prevalence of voice disorders is particularly higher than in the general population and risk factors specific to tour guide population exist.
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Voice disorders are frequently observed among professionals using their voice as their main working tool (ie, occupational voice users). The objective of this study is to establish the prevalence of voice disorders in tour guides and to evaluate the risk factors associated with these disorders. STUDY DESIGN: An online survey, containing the VHI-10 test, was sent to the metropolitan France guides in November 2017. The results were analyzed using answers of tour guides dispatched in all metropolitan French departments. RESULTS: We received 465 replies. Voice disorders were highly prevalent (up to 21.29%) according to the VHI-10 and were comparable to observed rates in other professional categories (teachers and telecommunicators). The proportion of guides complaining about voice disorders episodes (44.94%) is greater than in the overall general population. Specific work-related factors emerged in this study. First, the use of a high-intensity voice for more than 6 hours a week is a factor significantly associated with a higher risk of having a pathological score at VHI-10. Second, a significant proportion of the guides noted that noise pollution and changes in temperature affected their vocal quality. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these results, we can conclude that the tour guide profession is subject to voice-related risks. The prevalence of voice disorders is particularly higher than in the general population and risk factors specific to tour guide population exist.
Authors: Claudia A Heider; Matías L Álvarez; Eduardo Fuentes-López; Claudia A González; Norma I León; Daniela C Verástegui; Pedro I Badía; Carla A Napolitano Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2020-10-12 Impact factor: 2.970