Vocal and Laryngeal Symptoms and Associated Factors in Wind Instrumentalists: A Systematic Review

This is a systematic literature review to identify vocal and laryngeal symptoms and associated factors in adult wind instrumentalists.

The authors performed a systematic review in the electronic databases Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and LILACS, gray literature, and manual search. There were no language or publication time limitations, as recommended by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. They also performed title and abstract analysis followed by full-text analysis, risk of bias assessment (Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies), and result synthesis. Two researchers conducted the research independently.

Although six articles met the eligibility criteria, none of them fulfilled all the criteria for the methodological quality analysis. According to the six studies selected for this review, the main vocal symptoms in wind instrumentalists are dysphonia, altered vocal quality, hoarseness, and voice failures; and laryngeal symptoms are dryness, sore throat, throat irritation, throat clearing, discomfort, and tension. The associated factors identified for those symptoms were shorter working time, intense use of the instrument, and individual vocal issues.

The several vocal and laryngeal symptoms found in wind instrumentalists in the selected studies were associated with individual factors (prior vocal alteration, inappropriate vocal habits) and organizational factors (working time, intense use, and instrument type and technique). Although wind instrumentalists' vocal health is recognized in the literature, and vocal and laryngeal symptoms are identified and associated with playing a musical instrument, broadening studies with precise methodologies and analyses is necessary.