Self Reported Voice Problems of Music Specialist Teachers in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

n a number of published studies on voice disorders, teachers and singers emerge as sub-populations most at special risk. Teachers have been identified as professional voice users and teaching as the occupation most commen in this population at special risk of developing occupational voice disorders. One study suggests that teachers of music are eight times more likely to seek treatment for voice problems than others in the population. Despite this growing body of information, Australia's teacher education programmes appear to lack any systematic framework incorporating specific voice management and vocal health training. Literature on occupational voice disorders is presented here as background to a self-report study on voice disorders for Queensland music specialist teachers.