Perception of voice and hearing in teachers who carry out classes online in Chile

Abstract

Introduction: Teachers are vulnerable to vocal and hearing health problems due to the characteristics of their work, such as prolonged use of the voice and exposure to noise. This study seeks to establish the relationship between the type of audio device used, volume, hours of online work, and teachers' self-perception of voice and hearing.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 462 teachers (378 women and 84 men) between 21 and 40 years of age. An online survey was applied that collected data on the use of audio devices, sound level, and self-perception of voice. Significant differences by sex were analyzed and correlations were determined using statistical tests.Results: The results show that women tend to use more built-in microphones and speakers than men and report a more negative perception of their voice compared to men. A significant correlation (0.8999, p<0.00001) was found between the number of hours of online teaching and voice perception, where longer working time is associated with worse self-perception.Conclusions: Teachers mainly use built-in microphones and speakers, and their voice perception deteriorates as the hours of online class work increase. The need to implement prevention programs in vocal health and the use of devices that minimize the impact of environmental noise on their performance is highlighted.