While a vast amount of research has been undertaken to record how often music educators and general classroom teachers (those who do not teach music but teach other areas) experience or report voice problems, studies identifying the voice pathologies do not exist. The purpose of this research is to identify voice pathologies and treatments in music teachers and general classroom teachers who have been patients at a quaternary care laryngology practice.

Data including diagnoses, surgical interventions, voice therapy, incidence of LPR and autoimmune issues, comorbidities and vocal fold paresis/paralysis will be collected via retrospective chart review and analyzed using parametric and non-parametric statistics. Data collection is in progress.

While teachers in all areas understand that they may be prone to voice problems because of their careers, the most common voice pathologies and potential reasons for them have not been identified or stratified by teaching assignment. These data should lead to better understanding concerning diagnosis, care and treatment for teachers in music and non-music classrooms, and hopefully to strategies for dysphonia prevention. This information is important for both health care providers and for music and general classroom teachers.