One-year follow-up study of self-evaluated effects of Voice Massage™, voice training, and voice hygiene lecture in female teachers

Abstract

This study collected data on self-reported symptoms of vocal fatigue among Finnish female primary school teachers (n = 90) before and 6 months and 12 months after three types of interventions that aimed at improving vocal well-being at work. All subjects were given a voice hygiene lecture (3 hours), and, additionally, a randomly chosen group of 30 subjects was given voice massage treatment and another group voice training (5 x 1 hour sessions) over 2 months. The subjects answered a questionnaire over the Internet concerning symptoms of vocal fatigue. The sum score of symptoms decreased significantly in all three groups through the period of investigation. All three interventions improved the teachers' vocal well-being over the long term.