Abstract:
Professional Voice Users (PVUs), refers to the all those individuals who depend
on “their voice” to satisfy their professional needs such as teachers, actors, singers and RJs
(Stemple, 1993). Occupational/profession related voice usage along with inappropriate
vocal behaviours, have high potential to incline an individual towards vocal misuse, abuse
and eventually to voice disorders which in turn have a negative impact on their professional
and personal life (Hazlett et al., 2011). Thus, there is a high need to create and increase
awareness and knowledge among Professional Voice Users, related to vocal health and
voice care. This study aims at developing a vocal health related public education material
for PVUs with special focus on Teachers, Singers and Radio Jockeys in Tamil language.
The Public education material, was formulated based on the literature evidence and
knowledge and understanding obtained from the Professional Voice Users belonging to the
focus group. Suggestions from the PVUs (three teachers, one from singers and one radio
jockey) were incorporated. In addition, suggestions were obtained from a Speech Language
Pathologist and Otolaryngologist and incorporated. Finally, spelling, semantic and
syntactic appropriateness was verified and ensured by language expert. The linguistically
and culturally sensitive public education material, thus developed in this study, for PVUs
can be utilized in both prevention and management of voice disorders, among PVUs in
general and convergently for Teachers, Singers and Radio Jockeys. The active response
received from the PVUs, by means of their valuable suggestions and queries can be
considers as the primary success of this study.
