Abstract:

Considerable research has been done concerning the prevalence of vocal problems and disorders among teacher students and teachers. All research shows that voice disorders are very typical and are mostly connected to external factors such as environmental factors associated with vocal loading, health-related factors and stress-related factors. How voice disorders are connected to speakers posture, use of resonance and registers has not yet been studied. The primary prevention of voice disorders refers to elimination of circumstances that might cause a voice disorder, involving also teaching vocal hygiene strategies, while secondary prevention involves early detection and treatment of voice disorders. This article shows how teachers´ attitudes towards their voice in field condition can be changed by giving them new models of (1) vocal hygiene strategies and (2) vocal exercises, combined to the Eerola ABC and balance-method and the Pilates-method. The article also gives a model to incorporate such training for all new teachers, for example in Tallinn University.

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