The effect of workplace vocal health promotion program on primary education teachers’ vocal parameters

Abstract Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of Workplace Vocal Health Promotion Program (WVHPP) on Primary Education Teachers’ vocal parameters and to determine workplace conditions and barriers that can potentially have a negative influence on vocal health. Study design This study has adopted an experimental research design with a pretest-posttest control group. Methods The participants are 50 primary education teachers (25 subjects, 25 control participants), all of whom were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. During the pretest condition, demographic and occupational details were collected; Turkish versions of Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), and Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) were administered for subjective voice assessment; and audio recordings were created when the participants were performing tasks for phonation and speech. Acoustic analyses were completed on PRAAT while aerodynamic measurements conducted via maximum phonation time (MPT) and s/z ratio parameters. The participants in the experimental group were trained in line with vocal hygiene and WVHPP, and the pretest assessments were repeated for posttest analyses following the completion of the three-week intervention program. Results Statistically significant differences were observed across acoustic parameters (jitter, shimmer, HNR, CPPS), aerodynamic measurements (MPT), and subjective scale scores (VHI-10, V-RQOL, VFI) for the experimental group ( p < 0.01). On the contrary, a similar change was not determined for the participants in the control group. The findings indicated that WVHPP was an effective method to improve primary education teachers’ objective and subjective voice parameters. Conclusion This study has concluded that WVHPP is effective in improving primary education teachers’ vocal health. The findings have revealed that workplace vocal health promotion program for teachers does not only support the preservation of vocal health but also has the potential to contribute to professional performance.