OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of voice fatigue and throat disease in the secondary school teachers in Urumqi.

METHODSThis study included 11 689 teachers from 109 secondary schools offered by Teaching and Researching Center of Urumqi as the second-stage random sampling. Among them, 3217 teachers were selected to carry out voice fatigue test and routine examination of throat. For those with abnormal routine inspection results, the stroboscopic laryngoscopy were added.

RESULTSThe failure rate difference of 3217 secondary school teachers voice fatigue tests during different periods had statistical significance (F = 202.653, P < 0.05). The failure rate difference of voice fatigue test among different throat diseases groups had statistical significance (F = 9.516, P < 0.05). There was statistical significance in failure rates of the voice fatigue tests between 908 cases of disease group and 2309 cases of normal group among different genders and periods (P < 0.05). Female teachers had higher failure rates than male teachers in voice fatigue tests. High failure rates appeared when high volume required for male and female teachers in voice fatigue tests. There was statistical significance in mean value sound pressure level (MVSPL) and mean value fundamental frequency (MVF0) of the voice fatigue tests between different gender and periods (P < 0.05). Male teachers had higher MVSPL than female teachers, female teachers had higher MVF0 than male teachers. There was statistical significance in failure rates of the voice fatigue tests among teachers from different tribes in different periods (P < 0.05). The Uighur had the highest failure rate, while Han had the lowest. Make further pairwise comparisons, failure rates difference of the Han and the Uighur in the voice fatigue tests during different periods had statistical significance. Comparison among other tribes had no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVoice fatigue is common in secondary school teachers. Female teachers tend to get voice fatigue more easily, when required high volume, the voice fatigue is more serious. Uighurs teachers have highest degree of voice fatigue.