Abstract
Introduction For the singer, the voice is a medium used to express feelings that capture the listener.
Every singing style has specific demands, and a vocal alteration may prevent the singer
from meeting them.
Objective To compare the singing style, the vocal habits, and the general health data of professional
singers.
Methods Cross-sectional, quantitative and retrospective study of a survey database. Data
on the singing style, the vocal habits, and the health conditions and history of 57
professional singers, 31 female singers and 26 male singers, aged from 19 to 57 years
old (average of 32 years old), from a mid-sized town were analyzed
Results There was a prevalence of female (54 ± 2%) popular singers (91 ± 2%), in the adult
age (51 ± 2%), nonsmokers (89 ± 2%), nonusers of alcohol (77 ± 2%), with respiratory
problems (53 ± 2%), mainly rhinitis (23 ± 2%), and without other health problems.
There was a significant use of alcohol in males (p = 0.010); among the alcohol users, there was a significant presence of respiratory
problems (p = 0.046), of pharyngitis/tonsillitis (p = 0.003), and of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) (p = 0.043); there was a significant presence of GER in subjects reporting endocrine
problems (p = 0.023), of gastritis (p = 0.023), and of pharyngitis/tonsillitis (p = 0.030).
Conclusion There was a predominance of adult professional popular female singers, with complaints
of respiratory issues (with a higher prevalence of rhinitis), without other general
health issues, of nonsmokers, and of nonusers of alcohol.
Keywords
voice - singing voice - singing style - speech - language and hearing science
