University of Iowa research finds teachers are 32-times more likely to have problems with their voices than people in virtually any other profession. Ingo Titze, a speech science professor at the U-of-I, has helped develop a website to aid teachers, singers, newscasters and other people who use their voices as part their profession. Titze, director of the National Center for Voice and Speech, says the website — www.voiceacademy.org — will help people who use and over-use their voices to prevent and treat voice problems. Titze says the website is a set of virtual classrooms, including a “Science Center,” where teachers can learn about voice research, and a “Gymnasium” that provides voice health tips such as how to safely handle a glottal attack — a snap or click heard with words beginning with a vowel. He says many studies have found teachers are tough on their voices. He says it’s better to speak for short periods and take short breaks than to speak for long periods and have long breaks. Teachers are encouraged to structure their days to accommodate talking for ten minutes then resting for ten minutes rather than talking for 30 minutes and resting for 30 minutes.
