Vocal handicap index in popular and erudite professional singers.

Camila Miranda Loiola-Barreiro,Marta Assumpção De Andrada E Silva

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20162015226

Camila Miranda Loiola-Barreiro, Marta Assumpção De Andrada E Silva

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20162015226

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Abstract

To compare the voice handicap index of popular and erudite professional singers according to gender, age, professional experience time, and presence or absence of self-reported vocal complaints. One hundred thirty-two professional singers, 74 popular and 58 erudite, who responded to a questionnaire with regards to identification, age, gender, professional experience time in singing, musical genres (for popular singers), vocal classification (for erudite singers), presence of self-reported vocal complaints, and the specific protocols for popular (Modern Singing Handicap Index - MSHI) and erudite (Classical Singing Handicap Index - CSHI) singing. Higher proportion of women and higher incidence of vocal complaints were observed in the popular singers compared with the erudite singers. Most of the popular singers belonged to the genre of Brazilian Popular Music. Regarding the classification of erudite singers, there was greater participation of sopranos and tenors. No statistical differences were observed with respect to age and professional experience time between the groups. Comparison of the MSHI and CSHI scores showed no statistically significant difference between these scores and genre or age in both groups of singers. Professional experience time was related to the total score and the subscales disability and impairment in the MSHI, only for popular singers with vocal complaints. There was no correlation between these variables and the CSHI for erudite singers. The impact of vocal difficulty/problem interferes differently in these two musical genres when related to vocal complaint and professional experience time. The MSHI and CSHI protocols proved to be important tools not only for the identification of problems, but also for the understanding of how these individuals relate their voices with this occupational activity.

Highlights

Professional singing usually involves a high vocal demand with varying degrees of requirements and refinements, which interferes differently in the lives of professionals[1]
The purpose of this study was to compare the voice handicap index of popular and erudite professional singers by means of the Modern Singing Handicap Index (MSHI) and Classical Singing Handicap Index (CSHI) protocols according to gender, age, professional experience time, and presence or absence of self‐reported vocal complaints
The study sample was composed of 132 professional singers, 74 (56.1%) popular and 58 (43.9%) erudite, with higher proportion of women (59.1%), mean age of 33.5 years, age range from 18 to 66 years

Summary

Introduction

Professional singing usually involves a high vocal demand with varying degrees of requirements and refinements, which interferes differently in the lives of professionals[1]. An important tool to assess this impact and analyze the point of view of singers on their vocal matters are the self-assessment protocols entitled Classical Singing Handicap Index - CSHI[2], intended for erudite singers, and Modern Singing Handicap Index - MSHI[3], which addresses popular singers Both instruments feature a common structure of 30 statements divided into three subclasses: disability, handicap, and impairment, which correspond, respectively, to the functional (impact of voice on professional activities), emotional (voice psychological effects), and organic (self-perceived phonation) domains. They present a five-point Likert scale where the higher the score, the greater the handicap referred by the singer. These instruments have proved to be effective in verifying the individuals’ perception on the handicap of their singing voices during professional activity[2,3,4,5]

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