The effect of the workplace voice health improvement program on thevoice parameters of primary school teachers

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a structured Workplace Vocal Health Promotion Program on the voice parameters of primary school teachers. The study included 50 teachers working in Istanbul, who were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a vocal hygiene training consisting of three sessions delivered once a week over three weeks. The program focused on topics such as the anatomy and physiology of the voice, principles of vocal hygiene, risky vocal behaviors, and correct breathing and phonation techniques. Pre- and post-training assessments included acoustic parameters (F0, jitter, shimmer, HNR, CPPS), aerodynamic measures (maximum phonation time, s/z ratio), and subjective scales (VHI-10, V-RQOL, VFI). Voice recordings were analyzed using Praat and Audacity software, and the data were statistically evaluated. Statistical analyses revealed a significant decrease in jitter and shimmer values, and a significant increase in HNR, CPPS, and maximum phonation time. Additionally, significant improvements were found in VHI-10, V-RQOL, and VFI scores. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in F0, SPL, and s/z ratio values. In conclusion, the Workplace Vocal Health Promotion Program produced positive effects on both objective voice parameters and subjective evaluations of teachers, contributing to improved voice quality and vocal endurance. This study provides an original contribution to the literature as the first intervention implemented directly in the school environment with actively working teachers in Turkey, evaluating acoustic, aerodynamic, and subjective voice parameters in an integrated manner. Keywords: Voice disorder, vocal hygiene, teachers' vocal health, workplace vocal health promotion program, voice therapy