Effects of noise on the vocal quality of educational institute teachers

Efectos del ruido en la calidad vocal de docentes de instituciones educativas

Introduction: the objective of this research was to identify noise effect on vocal quality through acoustic analysis of the voice of teachers who work in educational institutions in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander.

Methods: a descriptive study with a quantitative approach was carried out with a total population of 71 teachers, who underwent: audiometry, acoustic analysis of the voice,  vocal disability index protocol and sonometry.

Results: the average noise level found for each area ranged between 62 and 65 dB and an alteration in local JITTER in 25 of the 57 teachers evaluated was discovered. JITTER = 0.307 + 0.015 age-0.126 sex-0.012 service time +0.018 hours worked -0.008 noise.

Analysis and discussion: in the regression models the result was R2 = 18.6%, which indicates that, as a whole, the independent variables explain 18.6% of the variability that occurs in the dependent variable, JITTER. Although this equation is not the best for predictive purposes, the relationships we obtained are in correspondence with the voice theoretical postulates.

Conclusions: there was no variability in noise measurements. Their percentages were homogeneous, which prevented a predictive registration with the regression model. However, according to literature noise is a factor that significantly influences vocal quality as long as it is accompanied of other exposure factors.