Development of a Prevention Program for School Teacher's Vocal Fatigue

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11302
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Prefectural University of Hiroshima
• Principal Investigator: SHIROMOTO Osamu 県立広島大学, 保健福祉学部(三原キャンパス), 教授 (00290544)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Vocal fatigue / Vocal Fatigue Index / School teacher

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the reality of vocal fatigue among school teachers and to explore the factors that may lead to its prevention. However, it was extremely difficult to conduct a face-to-face survey of school teachers during the three-year COVID-19 disaster. Therefore, in this study, we examined the actual situation of speech-language pathology students' vocal fatigue during their clinical practice, and examined whether it would be useful in clarifying vocal fatigue among school teachers. The results showed that vocal fatigue of speech-language pathology students was worse during the clinical training period than before and after the training period. Furthermore, vocal fatigue during clinical practice was found to be closely related to total speaking time during the day, sleep duration, phonatory pattern, and physical and mental fatigue. This finding may be related to voice fatigue among school teachers.

Free Research Field

Vocology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

School teachers' voice fatigue can cause laryngeal diseases such as vocal nodules and vocal polyps, which are the main cause of hoarseness. We first clarify the actual cause of vocal fatigue among school teachers, and then examine factors that may be useful in preventing vocal fatigue.