More than half of the teachers suffer some subject of voice problem, their main tool of work. This is the result of a work of research developed by Ainhoa Urra Barandiaran, PhD in Education from the University of Navarra, a native of Ibero (Navarra).

The study, which has been part of Ainhoa Urra's doctoral thesis in the Schools of Medicine and of Education and Psychology of the academic center, has analyzed the pathology board member in teachers who taught class in seven centers of the Autonomous Community, both in Spanish and in Basque.

The results showed that teachers of the Basque models suffered dysphonia in 65.5% of the cases and in 47.1% in Spanish. Likewise, the analysis showed that, after the application of a program educational board member , the problems were drastically reduced, with 21.8% of the Basque teachers and 18.3% of the professionals of the Education at Spanish suffering from these ailments.

"Our work aims to demonstrate scientifically that the implementation of a health program board member could solve the problem of dysphonia among teachers. This problem is, on the one hand, one of the main causes of occupational leave and, on the other hand, a relevant cause of frustration in this group, since vocal nodules are the only recognized cause of occupational disease, while in reality there are multiple voice disorders, many of them disabling," explains the researcher.

Hydration and regular physical exercise to take care of the voice

Likewise, the specialist, who works in the department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and in the department of Education of the Government of Navarra, makes it clear that only 13% of the teachers interviewed had received some subject of training on voice care.

"Most of the teachers were unaware of the guidelines we implemented in the program and did not have an adequate board member technique, since there are no programs applied in schools, nor any institutional protocol to prevent disorders. On the other hand, the quality of the voice of our teachers logically affects the quality of the Education that our children receive", criticizes the specialist.

This issue, he adds, leads teachers to have to pay privately for rehabilitation and related treatments, "in addition to giving up aspects of their private life -such as family or friendships- to avoid excessive strain on their voice. An issue that would be avoided with an appropriate model board member ". Among the recommendations pointed out by the speech therapist for the prevention of voice injuries are the maintenance of good hydration, correct posture and regular physical exercise internship .