Voice Burden in Teachers and Non-teachers in a UK population: A Questionnaire Based Survey.

To characterise the burden of voice disorders in teachers in a UK population, compare it with non-teachers; and identify groups of teachers who may be particularly at risk of developing a voice problem.Questionnaire based survey of primary, secondary teachers and non-teachers. Questions consisted of general demographics, VHI-10 and questions relating to voice problems.Distribution of questionnaires to teachers and non-teachers and statistical analysis of the responses.University teaching hospital.Teachers and non-teachers in a region of Northwest England.Identification of risk factors for voice problems in teachers, compared to non-teachers.210 primary, 244 secondary school teachers, and 304 non-teachers participated in the questionnaire survey. Response rates were 67.9 % from primary, 41.2 % from secondary schools and 40.0% from the non-teachers. 30.0% of teachers and 9.0% of non-teachers had reported problems with their voice. 12.8% of teachers and 2.0% of non-teachers had missed work due to voice problems. 14.1% of teachers and 5.3% non-teachers had seen a general practitioner for voice related problems, while 7.1% of teachers and 6.3% of non-teachers had been referred to an Otolaryngologist or speech therapist for voice problems. Factors related to VHI-10 (p<0.05) were identified.Voice disorders are an occupational health problem for teachers, with a significant burden of these disorders in this group of teachers in the UK. We have identified risk factors that could be exploited to identify groups of teachers who would benefit from early intervention.