Vocal Fold Pathologies Among Undergraduate Singing Students In Three Different Genres.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and incidence of vocal fold pathologies among undergraduate classical, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music (CCM) students over two-time points.

Methods: This study is part of a longitudinal investigation. Videostroboscopic examinations were rated, with consensus among three of four expert blinded raters confirming the presence of pathology.

Independence of Vocal Load From Vocal Pathology Across Singing Genres.

Objective: To investigate the extent to which vocal load is associated with previous diagnosis of a vocal pathology among four major genres of singers (primarily classical, primarily musical theatre (MT), classical and MT combined, and contemporary commercial music only).

Study Design: Cross sectional survey.

Methods/design: An anonymous online survey was sent out to about 1000 professional singers through convenience sampling to touring companies, opera companies, MT companies, agents, directors and musical directors.

Associations of Education and Training with Perceived Singing Voice Function Among Professional Singers.

Background: The educational backgrounds of professional singers vary greatly and span from no formal training to advanced degrees in music or theater. Consequently, professional singers have a wide range of knowledge regarding basic voice care. The objective of this study was to examine associations between singers' educational backgrounds, specifically their knowledge of vocal pedagogy and awareness of vocal health, and their perceptions of their current vocal function associated with singing.

Prevalence of Vocal Fold Pathologies Among First-Year Singing Students Across Genres.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of the study was to compare the prevalence of vocal fold pathologies among first-year singing students from the classical, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music (CCM) genres.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Videostroboscopic examinations were rated by blinded expert raters.

The Role of Observation and Mentorship in Voice Pedagogy Training.

Background: Voice teachers are seeking increasing amounts of pedagogical instructions in the form of observerships, coursework, and clinical experiences. Yet to date there has been no formalized attempt to categorize or set guidelines for these educational experiences.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate (a) the number of hours of observations required or electively completed during pedagogical training (voice lessons, masterclasses) and clinical observations; (b) the number of hours of mentorship (critical observation of a student by a mentor) during pedagogical training; and (c) differences in the training backgrounds of voice teachers based on the level of training, position, and genre.

The economic impact of vocal attrition in public school teachers in Miami-Dade County.

Objectives/hypothesis: Teachers are a known at-risk population for voice disorders. The prevalence and risk factors for voice disorders have been well studied in this population, but little is known about the associated economic cost. The purpose of this study is to assess the economic impact of voice dysfunction in teachers and understand the difference between the cost of absenteeism and presenteeism as a direct result of voice dysfunction.

A Survey of Equipment in the Singing Voice Studio and Its Perceived Effectiveness by Vocologists and Student Singers.

Objectives: Speech-language pathologists have long used technology for the clinical measurement of the speaking voice, but present research shows that vocal pedagogues and voice students are becoming more accepting of technology in the studio. As a result, the equipment and technology used in singing voice studios by speech-language pathologists and vocal pedagogues are changing. Although guides exist regarding equipment and technology necessary for developing a voice laboratory and private voice studio, there are no data documenting the current implementation of these items and their perceived effectiveness.

A Review of Training Opportunities for Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialists.

Objectives: Training opportunities for singing voice rehabilitation specialists are growing and changing. This is happening despite a lack of agreed-on guidelines or an accredited certification acknowledged by the governing bodies in the fields of speech-language pathology and vocal pedagogy, the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, respectively. The roles of the speech-language pathologist, the singing teacher, and the person who bridges this gap, the singing voice rehabilitation specialist, are now becoming better defined and more common among the voice care community.

Acoustic markers to differentiate gender in prepubescent children's speaking and singing voice.

Objectives: Investigation sought to determine whether there is any acoustic variable to objectively differentiate gender in children with normal voices.

Methods: A total of 30 children, 15 boys and 15 girls, with perceptually normal voices were examined. They were between 7 and 10 years old (mean: 8.

Laryngeal and pharyngeal activity during semioccluded vocal tract postures in subjects diagnosed with hyperfunctional dysphonia.

High vertical laryngeal position (VLP), pharyngeal constriction, and laryngeal compression are common features associated with hyperfunctional voice disorders. The present study aimed to observe the effect on these variables of different semioccluded vocal tract postures in 20 subjects diagnosed with hyperfunctional dysphonia. During observation with flexible endoscope, each participant was asked to produce eight different semioccluded exercises: lip trills, hand-over-mouth technique, phonation into four different tubes, and tube phonation into water using two different depth levels.