A Comprehensive Online Voice Screening Platform for Early Detection and Management of Dysphonia in Teachers

Background: Dysphonia, a condition characterized by voice disorders, poses a significant occupational hazard for teachers, affecting their quality-of-life and professional efficacy. Such disorders often result from vocal misuse or overuse, leading to symptoms like hoarseness and vocal fatigue. While long-term dysphonia can be managed effectively with early detection and intervention, teachers often lack awareness and delay seeking medical support.

Objective: This project aims to develop an online screening platform tailored for teachers, designed to facilitate early identification of dysphonia, provide preventative exercises, and offer guidance on when to seek further medical referral.

Methods: The development of the platform embraced a two-stage approach, integrating validated screening tools such as the Voice Handicap Index long-form (VHI-30) and short-form (VHI-10). Users would routinely receive prompts for initial screening. If the results indicate potential dysphonia, the platform automatically triggers a more detailed screening, encompassing the VHI-30 and an acoustic voice analysis. Thus, the platform functions as a long-term tracking and monitoring system.

Results: Preliminary evaluations of the platform indicate its effectiveness in early identification and management of dysphonia. The platform’s components include: (i) Voice Screening, with a two-stage process using VHI-10 for initial screening and VHI-30 with acoustic analysis for a detailed assessment; (ii) General Voice Protection Advice, offered post-screening; (iii) Voice Protection Exercises, demonstrated through videos for teachers who fail the first stage; and (iv) Screening Documentation and Referral Guidelines, providing a brief report and referral steps for teachers failing the second stage.

Conclusion: The proposed platform offers a comprehensive solution for teachers to monitor, protect, and seek timely intervention for voice disorders. By facilitating early detection and preventative measures, it aims to mitigate the prevalence of persistent dysphonia, positively influencing teachers’ professional lives and societal well-being.