About one-third of the workforce in modern economies relies on their voice to do the job, from teachers to trade unionists, call centre workers to checkout staff.
If talking is an essential part of your job, you are likely to put strain on your vocal cords. But voice strain is not restricted to workers in noisy environments who find themselves shouting.
Voice impairment affects workers where the workplace has poor air quality. For example, where the air carries mould spores or dust, or where the air is dry, heated or air-conditioned, or where workers suffer from colds and infections. Voice impairment affects workers who overuse their voices, those with fatigued voices and even those suffering from stress. It affects people who work with chemicals or in polluted environments.
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