Voice Disorders in Lawyers; an Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Background: Professional voice user is a term used for people using their voice as a primary tool for trade and their job but if a problem arises in them like aphonia or dysphonia, they become discouraged and sought for alternative jobs. This article figures out such issues in lawyers's population which are the one; prone to vocal-misuse. Objective: The study aim to investigate the occupational risk for voice disorders in lawyers and its association with increase in their age, on provincial level of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study was carried among the lawyers practicing in the high court and district courts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Data was collected using convenient sampling from the sample size of 373 and analyzed using SPSS. Probability of developing voice disorders was determined through VHI scoring while t-tests are used for further analysis of the data. Results: On the basis of results, it was observed that lawyers with increase in their age by practicing in this profession was at greater risk for developing voice disorders (Age: 51-60, n=198). On the basis of VHI, prevalence for the lawyers who scored for severe level was 53% While most of the participants were seem to be handicapped for voice due to its emotional component (mean=16.02, σ2=159.96). Results also shows significant association for severity with increase in age (P<0.005). Conclusion: It can be concluded that lawyers become prone to develop voice disorders with the passage of time with their continuous professional practice. Keywords: Lawyers, Voice disorders, VHI