A survey of vocal health in church choir singers

Vasudha Sharma,Usha Devadas,Srikanth Nayak

doi:10.1007/s00405-021-06770-0

Vasudha Sharma, Usha Devadas + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06770-0

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Abstract

PurposeChoir singing is an important tradition of Christian worship across India. However, vocal health issues related to the church choir singers are less addressed in the literature. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vocal symptoms, identify the variables associated with increased risk of voice problems and knowledge of factors influencing vocal health in church choir singers.MethodOne hundred and forty-eight church choir singers (61 males and 85 females) between the age range of 18 and 70 years participated in the study. They completed a self-reported questionnaire addressing demographic and singing-related details, vocal symptoms, variables associated with increased risk reporting voice problems and knowledge about factors influencing vocal health.ResultEighty-four percent of the choir singers reported two or more vocal symptoms sometimes or more frequently while or after singing. More than half of the church choir singers had experienced vocal symptoms such as accessing notes in the upper range, loss of vocal endurance, pitch breaks, hoarseness, dryness in the throat, and discomfort in the throat. Among the different variables, systemic hydration found to have a significant association with reporting of voice problems in church choir singers. The overall knowledge regarding the factors influencing vocal health was found to be limited among the choir singers.ConclusionChoir singers like other professional singers experienced a higher prevalence of vocal symptoms during or after singing and exhibited limited knowledge about factors that negatively influence vocal health. Hence, there is a need to look into these singer’s vocal requirements, who usually go unnoticed.

Highlights

Choral music popularized by western missionaries for spreading of Christian gospel outside European countries [1] and it is practised in religious, school and community settings
Voice problems experienced by the Indian church choir singers are less reported in the literature. The purpose of this selfreported survey was to investigate the prevalence of vocal symptoms, identify the variables associated with increased risk of voice problems and knowledge of factors influencing vocal health in church choir singers
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vocal symptoms, identify the variables associated with increased risk of voice problems and knowledge about factors influencing vocal health in church choir singers

Summary

Introduction

Choral music popularized by western missionaries for spreading of Christian gospel outside European countries [1] and it is practised in religious, school and community settings. A study conducted in Australia reported poor vocal health care knowledge among Contemporary worship singers [19]. A recent study conducted in Sao Paulo among 526 amateur choristers analyzed the relationship between vocal risk and voice signs and symptoms, specific singing handicap and generalized anxiety. Tepe et al [9] conducted a study on vocal health in 129 young choir singers and reported 56% of the singers had vocal difficulty, of which 43% reported hoarseness in voice and further one-third of the total singers had an incidence of straining and over-singing. Ravall and Simberg [23] investigated the prevalence of voice problem and vocal health and awareness among 315 choir singers. The study results indicated the 21% of participants experienced two or more frequently occurring vocal symptoms and 50% of the subjects had limited voice care knowledge

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