Voice Disorders and Voice Knowledge in Choir Singers.

Area of Science:

• Vocal health
• Singing pedagogy
• Occupational voice use

Background:

• Singers report higher rates of vocal issues compared to non-singers.
• Understanding voice disorders in choir singers is crucial for prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of voice disorders in choir singers.
• To identify risk factors associated with voice disorders in this population.
• To assess choir singers' knowledge of vocal anatomy, physiology, and ergonomics.

Main Methods:

• A web-based questionnaire was administered to 315 adult choir singers (65% female, 35% male).
• The questionnaire covered demographics, vocal symptoms, risk factors for voice disorders, and voice-related knowledge.

Main Results:

• 21% of participants reported at least two frequent vocal symptoms, indicating a functional voice disorder.
• Choir singers in vocally demanding professions were nearly twice as likely to experience frequent vocal symptoms.
• Health factors such as inhalant allergies and asthma were significantly associated with the number of vocal symptoms reported.
• Overall knowledge regarding voice anatomy, physiology, and ergonomics among choir singers was found to be limited.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of voice disorders in choir singers appears comparable to that of professional voice users.
• Choir singers engaged in vocally demanding professions face an elevated risk of developing functional voice disorders.
• Educational initiatives focusing on vocal health, anatomy, physiology, and ergonomics are essential for preventing voice disorders in choir singers.