Teaching can cause laryngitis

68 per cent of teachers in primary schools have suffered voice problems

Sixty eight per cent of teachers working in primary schools have experienced voice problems which they feel have been caused by their job, according to a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

Over a third of teachers who have experienced voice problems have visited their GP, and almost a quarter have had to take time off work.

These are some of the key findings of an ATL survey, carried out in February and March, of 490 teachers working in maintained and independent schools in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Overall 60 per cent of teachers surveyed have experienced voice problems, with 68 per cent of teachers working in maintained schools experiencing voice problems compared to 57 per cent in independent schools.

Barbara Heath, a teacher at Gorsemoor Primary School, Staffordshire, said: ‘I have nodules on my vocal chords as a result of teaching in open plan. Five years ago my room was fitted with a door and I was supplied with a radio microphone so as not to strain my voice. I still have days where the pain is unbearable, but continue not to take time off. Who does in a primary school as laryngitis is an occupational hazard?’

However, 42 per cent of teachers who had experienced voice problems said their school had offered little or no support when problems occurred. Twenty per cent of teachers said that their school had shown them no support, and an additional 22 per cent had found their school to be quite unsupportive.

ATL general secretary, Dr Mary Bousted, concluded: ‘These statistics are truly shocking – too many teachers are putting pressure on their voices on a regular basis and are suffering as a result. It is vital that schools support their staff and help them protect their voices when problems occur.’