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O objetivo deste artigo foi realizar uma revisão das publicações brasileiras referentes à voz do professor, produzidas por fonoaudiólogos, no período de 1994 a 2008. O estudo transversal, de natureza bibliográfica, foi realizado em três etapas. A primeira constou de levantamento em diferentes fontes; a segunda compreendeu a busca dos resumos de todos os trabalhos relacionados; na terceira, foi realizada leitura do material para classificação em quatro categorias: avaliação dos indivíduos; avaliação dos efeitos de intervenções; descrição de intervenções; e estudos bibliográficos/teóricos/documentais. Foram contabilizadas 500 publicações, sendo 415 (83%) referentes às categorias de avaliações e, dentre essas, 357 (86%) com objetivo de avaliação dos participantes e/ou das condições de trabalho e apenas 58 (14%) com preocupação de avaliar os efeitos de programas/intervenções. Quanto às dimensões de análise das avaliações, que em 202 estudos (48,7%) foram mais de uma, a perspectiva dos próprios professores foi a mais utilizada (52,5% das análises), seguida por análises perceptivo-auditivas realizadas por fonoaudiólogos (15,2%), e avaliação do ambiente e da organização do trabalho (14,9%). Na categoria denominada descritivos de intervenção foram encontrados 31 (6,2%) trabalhos e na categoria bibliográfico/teórico/documental, 54 (10,8%). A revisão realizada confirma que a perspectiva da avaliação vocal tem sido privilegiada nos estudos brasileiros. Avaliações de efeito de intervenções, mais recentes e ainda pouco representativas, indicam uma tendência de mudança de foco que pode auxiliar a compreensão da complexa realidade do uso da voz na docência, nortear futuras ações fonoaudiológicas e inspirar estudos sobre intervenção fonoaudiológica com esses indivíduos.

OBJECTIVE:To propose and test the applicability of a dysphonia risk screening protocol with score calculation in individuals with and without dysphonia.METHOD:This descriptive cross-sectional study included 365 individuals (41 children, 142 adult women, 91 adult men and 91 seniors) divided into a dysphonic group and a non-dysphonic group. The protocol consisted of 18 questions and a score was calculated using a 10-cm visual analog scale. The measured value on the visual analog scale was added to the overall score, along with other partial scores. Speech samples allowed for analysis/assessment of the overall degree of vocal deviation and initial definition of the respective groups and after six months, the separation of the groups was confirmed using an acoustic analysis.RESULTS:The mean total scores were different between the groups in all samples. Values ranged between 37.0 and 57.85 in the dysphonic group and between 12.95 and 19.28 in the non-dysphonic group, with overall means of 46.09 and 15.55, respectively. High sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated when discriminating between the groups with the following cut-off points: 22.50 (children), 29.25 (adult women), 22.75 (adult men), and 27.10 (seniors).CONCLUSION:The protocol demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating groups of individuals with and without dysphonia in different sample groups and is thus an effective instrument for use in voice clinics.

The findings corroborated the relationship among bruxism, oral habits and altered aspects of orofacial motricity in children from the studied age group, reinforcing the necessity of speech therapy actions next to the institutions and families.

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OBJECTIVE:To analyze the association between noise levels present in preschool institutions and vocal disorders among educators. METHODS:Cross-sectional study conducted in 2009 with 28 teachers from three preschool institutions located in the city of São Paulo (Southeastern Brazil). Sound pressure levels were measured according to Brazilian Technical Standards Association, with the use of a sound level meter. The averages were classifi ed according to the levels of comfort, discomfort, and auditory damage proposed by the Pan American Health Organization. The educators underwent voice evaluation: self-assessment with visual analogue scale, auditory perceptual evaluation using the GRBAS scale, and acoustic analysis utilizing the Praat program. To analyze the association between noise and voice evaluation, descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were employed, with signifi cance of 10% due to sample size. RESULTS:The teachers' age ranged between 21 and 56 years. The noise average was 72.7 dB, considered as damage 2. The professionals' vocal self-assessment ranked an average of 5.1 on the scale, being considered as moderate alteration. In the auditory-perceptual assessment, 74% presented vocal alteration, especially hoarseness; of these, 52% were considered mild alterations. In the acoustic assessment the majority presented fundamental frequency below the expected level. Averages for jitter, shimmer and harmonic-noise ratio showed alterations. An association between the presence of noise between the harmonics and vocal disorders was observed. CONCLUSIONS:There is an association between presence of noise between the harmonics and vocal alteration, with high noise levels. Although most teachers presented mild voice alteration, the self-evaluation showed moderate alteration, probably due to the diffi culty in projection.

We aimed to analyze the vocal self-perception of Brazilian teachers and their communication needs, vocal signs and symptoms, and voice-related lifestyles during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and, based on this information, to develop guidance materials intended for dissemination to these teachers and the general community. METHODS: An online questionnaire designed for this survey was distributed via the researchers' networks and was available for completion by any teacher, except those who were not working at the time. There were 1,253 teachers from all over Brazil, of both sexes, covering a wide age range, working at different levels of education, and most with more than ten years of experience. Descriptive and inferential analyses of the data were performed. RESULTS: On comparing the prepandemic period with the current one, participants indicated voice improvements. In contrast, they presented symptoms such as dry throat, effort in addressing remote classes, hoarseness after classes, and difficulties with the use of headphones, among others. They further indicated stress, general fatigue, impact of the pandemic on mental health, and the overlapping of many home tasks with professional tasks. Some smoked, and others hydrated insufficiently. CONCLUSION: Although teachers generally noticed voice improvements during the pandemic, a proportion of them perceived worsening of voices. Many indicated several factors in which speech-language pathologists could guide them with the aim of improving performance and comfort during remote and hybrid classes, an initiative that will positively impact not only their voice and communication but also their quality of life.

the changes that were observed during the program were interesting, but very restrict which makes one wonder about the real effects of this kind of practice and how much broader changes rely on small individual changes. Actions that involve information about vocal well-being exclusively should be revised.