Teachers’ voice strain could lead to raft of legal cases

JOE had been a teacher for more than a quarter of a century when he found himself constantly tired and worn-out after work.

He drank lots of water in class and started taking lozenges, thinking he just had a throat infection. But when the symptoms continued his doctor sent him to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

The consultant found a wart-like growth on his vocal chords, something he said is common among teachers, actors and singers. After an operation to remove the growth last June, Joe not his real name returned to his south Dublin school last September.