WORK-RELATED COMMUNICATION DISORDERS REGISTERED IN A REFERENCE CENTER FOR WORKER’S HEALTH

Abstract

Introduction: Worker’s health is based on the conditions generated by the relationship between work and health. It focuses on preventive efforts or control of risks in/by the workplace. This study was encouraged by the need to establish a frame of current phonoaudiological practices focusing on worker’s health. Objective: To identify the communication profile of workers admitted to the Speech Reference Center for Occupational Health (CEREST) of a municipality in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, PE. Material and Methods: This was an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study using medical records of 32 patients assisted by the Division of Speech Therapy of CEREST between May 2007 and October 2009. Our study focused on the diagnosis and behavior of the speech-language pathology as well as on the relationship between complaint/disturbance and working activity. Results: Most workers were females (62.5%), aged between 36 and 45 years (68.75%). The majority of them had vocal complaints, worked as teachers, and were requesting a technical phonoaudiological report. The three most common specific procedures were: phonoaudiological evaluation and guidance (100% ) and indication for educational lectures in the workplace (75%). Conclusion: Worker’s health care in this CEREST is not yet being sought at the preventive and collective level. The greatest demand of the Division of Speech Therapy concerns patients already sick who require health screening to report their labor institutions. DESCRIPTORS Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Communication. Occupational Diseases.