Work-related vocal disorders: the experience of state workers' health

Abstract

 The Reference Centers for Workers' Health of the State of São Paulo (CEREST/SP) have been directing attention to the vocal well-being of the professionals who use their voice as a primary work tool. The aim of this research is to cartograph, using a questionnaire, the activities performed by these Centers, especially those related to promotion, prevention and treatment of the demands concerning vocal disorders. Of the 150 questionnaires that were sent out, only 23 (15.3%) were returned, and, of these, five reported not having a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) among their regular employees. The first Center to hire a SLP began in 1996, and the majority of the centers are located in the Southeast region with hired SLPs, who deal with both auditory and vocal issues, in multiprofessional groups. Teachers are the group of professional voice users who more often look for treatment in the CERESTs, and are mostly women, over 30 years of age. The care for voice professionals has been expanding in the environment of the CETERSTs, which is a very positive indication as a way of understanding work-related vocal disorders. The approach of these disorders requires, however, new technologies that incorporate the contextualized and collective understanding of healthillness relationships.