Patterns of Clinical Presentations for Voice Care Among Professional and Student Singers

Previous investigations have identified laryngeal diagnoses associated with age and sex, with professional singers experiencing a higher incidence of vocal injury relative to the rest of the population. However, no previous studies have examined injury patterns within the population of professional and student singers only. The objective of this study was to describe patterns of clinical presentations for laryngologic care among professional and student singers according to age, sex, and diagnosis.

This retrospective case review collected primary diagnosis, age, sex, and self-reported professional or student status for singers who presented with voice complaints from January 1, 2017 to May 1, 2024. Iatrogenic injuries, malignancy, and neurodegenerative disease processes were excluded.

Records of 1139 singers were included (n = 1139, 416 male, 723 female, median age 30, age range 17-79). Presentations were predominantly professional female singers (63% F, 85% professional) between ages 20 and 35. Peaks in presentations were seen at ages 22, 26, and 30, in support of prior literature and clinical observations. A peak in both sexes was also seen at age 52, potentially coinciding with menopause and effects of senescence. There were strongly significant associations between age group and diagnosis and sex and diagnosis (p < 0.001), especially bilateral midfold masses and female sex (p < 0.001) across all age groups (p < 0.001).

These data inform counseling for professional singers and support screening exams at early career milestones to reduce healthcare burden and costs over the lifetime for this high-risk population.