Set theory for the analysis of the probabilistic intersections between the most common symptoms and factors that generate voice disorders in Mexican teachers




Emilio Arch-Tirado, Neurological Center, Centro Médico ABC, Campus Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico
Areli López-Oceguera, Subdirection of Audiology, Phoniatrics, and Speech Pathology, Division of Human Communication Therapy, Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Ma. Angélica Velasco-Orozco, Subdirection of Audiology, Phoniatrics, and Speech Pathology, Division of Human Communication Therapy, Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Miriam K. Ramírez-Martínez, Subdirection of Audiology, Phoniatrics, and Speech Pathology, Division of Human Communication Therapy, Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
María del C. Cores-Maza, Subdirection of Audiology, Phoniatrics, and Speech Pathology, Division of Human Communication Therapy, Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
Ana L. Lino-González, Subdirection of Biomedical Research, Neuroscience Division, Clinical Neuroscience Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico


Background/Objective: To use the theory of sets for the analysis of probabilistic intersections between the most common symptoms and factors that generate voice disorders in Mexican teachers. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. 152 teachers participated and answered the Vocal Disability Index inventory and a questionnaire on vocal symptoms and habits. A descriptive analysis and diagrams were carried out based on Venn Euler’s set theory, from which the probability of occurrence of symptoms and triggering factors of voice disorders were calculated. Results: 100% perception of mainly physical (90.1%) and functional (82.9%), mild severity (81.6%), vocal effort in class (82.9%), dry throat (68.4%) and dysphonia (64.5%) was found. He highlighted the probability that teachers present dysphonia and dryness of the larynx (93.67%), reflux and dysphonia (81.94%), as well as alcohol consumption, dry throat, dysphony and smoking with vocal effort in class (95.77, 91.34, 89.79, and 85.18%). Conclusions: Using the theory of sets favors the clear representation of the behavior of the data with respect to the same population and distribution, enabling the visualization and calculation of probabilistic intersections between the variables.



Keywords: Teachers. Voice. Voice disorders. Risk factors. Set theory.