Effects of ergonomic and environmental factors on phonation at a low pitch

Sihvo, Marketta; Alku, Paavo; Lauri, Eija-Riitta; Sala, Eeva; Vilkman, Erkki

doi:10.1080/140154399435156

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Background noise forces the speaker to raise his:her voice about 5 dB for each 10 dB raise in the background noise level (17). H igh speech levels, especially combined with long speech times, may be one risk factor for voice disorders among day care center teachers (30,33,36). In this study, the background noise levels exceeded with 20 -30 dB the level at which one has to begin to raise one's voice in order to be heard (17), but did not exceed the risk level of hearing loss (16).…”

Section: Background Noise Levelsmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…The risk factors contributing to voice disorders are several (33,36,37), but the most obvious ones may be professional: teachers at day care centers speak loudly and for long periods of time without proper breaks. A high speech level is needed when the background noise levels are high, and this is possibly associated with the large groups of children and the poor acoustics of the facilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vocal loading among day care center teachers

Sala

Airo

Olkinuora

et al. 2002

Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology

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Day care center teachers suffer from voice disorders more often than nurses do. Several risk factors may increase voice disorder prevalence of day care center teachers. The risk factors can be bound to their job content and manner of working i.e. having to raise their voice to attract the attention of the children and to offer them the possibility to perceive spoken information, or to the environment i.e. poor acoustics and excess background noise. The purpose of this study was to measure some of the risk factors for voice disorders of day care center teachers and of a control group (nurses); these were speaking times and speech levels. The background noise levels during activities and RASTI-values (Rapid Speech Transmission Index), i.e. measures of the acoustics of rooms, were also measured at the day care centers. It was found that day care center teachers use their voices more and with higher levels than nurses do. It was also found that the background noise levels are high, which is partly due to the poor acoustics (lack of sufficient attenuation) of the rooms. Control of excess background noise is of utmost importance both for speakers' speech production as well as children's speech recognition.

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Section: Background Noise Levelsmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal loading among day care center teachers

Sala

Airo

Olkinuora

et al. 2002

Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Diseases of the voice can have many causes, both individual and occupational in nature. According to the findings of Rantala et al [10], Sihvo et al [11], Vilkman [12], and own observations the following work-related causes and corrective measures could be identified for call centre agents:…”

Section: Occupational Medicinementioning

confidence: 95%

“…In telephone communication, the voice is of greater importance because of the exclusion of other communication means (gestures, facial expression). Relationships between the occurrence of voice-related complaints or disorders and occupational stress and strain have been repeatedly verified scientifically [10,11,12]. People who work in speaking occupations are overrepresented in speech therapy clinics and in therapists' practices.…”

Section: Occupational Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%

CCall—Healthy and Successful Work in Call Centres

Benninghoven

Bindzius

Braun³

et al. 2005

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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Call centre workplaces are in many ways a challenge to occupational health and safety. The occupation itself can be described as an IT information technology-supported, communication-intensive form of work with often unusual working hours and a high rate of part-time employment. Data on the employee turnover as well as absenteeism related to occupational disability is quite contradictory. Occupational safety and its proponents still have to find new ways into the corporate structures and cultures of this relatively new and rapidly growing branch of industry. In a 2-year research and development project, using a holistic approach and under consideration of all the relevant disciplines, call centre workplaces were studied, and organisational measures were developed and field tested by putting them into practice. Practical help was developed for a sustainable strategy for successful and healthy work in call centres.

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Occupational Safety and Health Aspects of Voice and Speech Professions

Vilkman¹

2004

Folia Phoniatr Logop

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302

223

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A well-functioning voice is an essential tool for one third of the labour force. Vocal demands vary to a great extent between the different voice and speech professions. In professions with heavy vocal loading (e.g. school and kindergarten teachers), occupational voice disorders threatening working ability are common. Vocal loading is a combination of prolonged voice use and additional loading factors (e.g. background noise, acoustics, air quality) affecting the fundamental frequency, type and loudness of phonation or the vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds as well as the external frame of the larynx. The prevention and treatment of occupational voice disorders calls for improved occupational safety and health (OSH) arrangements for voice and speech professionals. On the basis of epidemiological and acoustic-physiological research, the presence of risk to vocal health can be substantiated. From the point of view of the physical load on the vocal apparatus, loading-related physiological changes (adaptation) may play a role in the occupational risk. Environmental factors affect vocal loading changes. In teaching professions, the working environment is shared with children, who benefit from amendments of OSH legislation concerning their teachers.

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Effects of ergonomic and environmental factors on phonation at a low pitch

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

Vocal loading among day care center teachers

Vocal loading among day care center teachers

CCall—Healthy and Successful Work in Call Centres

Occupational Safety and Health Aspects of Voice and Speech Professions

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