IALP 2025

Factors That Hinder Singing, Vocal Fatigue, and Vocal Handicap in Amateur Singers: Is There a Correlation?

Kelly Silverio SLP Josué Miranda SLP, Master Student Leticia Bonini MS-SLP Jhonatan Vitor PhD, SLP Alcione Brasolotto
Speech, Language and Hearing Disorder Department, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Purpose: This study compares self-perception of factors influencing singing, ease of singing scores, vocal fatigue, and singing handicap in amateur singers with and without vocal complaints/symptoms. It also examines relationships between these factors. Method: Fifty-two amateur singers (40 women, 12 men; mean age = 30 years) were divided into two groups: with vocal complaints/symptoms (VCG) and without vocal complaints/symptoms (NVCG). Participants rated factors that made singing difficult (vocal technique, repertoire/duration/frequency of performances, equipment, sleep, nutrition, hydration) using a visual analog scale (100 mm). They completed the Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily (EASE-BR; Rocha et al., 2014), Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI; Zambon et al., 2017), and Modern Singing Handicap Index (MSHI; Moreti et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney, Pearson, and Spearman correlations (p<0.05). Findings: The VCG scored higher on EASE-BR (p=0.024) and VFI (p=0.015) and more often reported “vocal technique” as a difficulty (p=0.016) compared to the NVCG. In the VCG, moderate positive correlations were found between “vocal technique” and VFI (p=0.006, r=0.533); “higher performance frequency” and MSHI (p=0.011, r=0.498); and “lower hydration” and MSHI (p=0.022, r=0.456). In the NVCG, a correlation was found between “vocal technique” and MSHI (p=0.002, r=0.563). Discussion: Singers with vocal complaints experience less ease in singing, more fatigue, and perceive vocal technique as a greater obstacle. Lower hydration and higher performance frequency are linked to greater vocal handicap. Even among those without complaints, vocal technique difficulties relate to vocal handicap. Learning Outcomes: Understanding the relationship between singing voice aspects and self-perception of vocal handicap in amateur singers.

References

Zambon, F., et al. (2017). Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian version of the Vocal Fatigue Index – VFI. CoDAS, 29(2), e20150261. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20172015261

Rocha, B. R., et al. (2014). Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian version of the protocol Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily. CoDAS, 26(6), 535-539. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20142014175

Moreti, F., Rocha, C., Borrego, M. C. M., & Behlau, M. (2011). Voice handicap in singing: Analysis of the Modern Singing Handicap Index – MSHI questionnaire. Rev Soc Bras Fonoaudiol, 16(2), 146-151.