MSGID: 1:317/3 62735330   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Hundreds of injured singers profiled    
    Analysis identifies most common conditions and treatments    
      
     Date:   
         May 4, 2022   
     Source:   
         UT Southwestern Medical Center   
     Summary:   
         An analysis of more than 400 singers who sought treatment for   
         vocal injuries provides a wealth of data on a topic that's often   
         considered taboo to discuss in the singing community.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   An analysis of more than 400 singers who sought treatment at UT   
   Southwestern Medical Center for vocal injuries provides a wealth of   
   data on a topic that's often considered taboo to discuss in the singing   
   community.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   The findings, published in The Laryngoscope, show that only 1 in 7   
   subsequently needed surgery for injuries that weren't resolved with   
   vocal therapy and other conservative management. Researchers determined   
   which vocal injuries were most common by sex, age, training, and   
   professional/amateur status, and what kinds of treatment these patients   
   subsequently required.   
      
   "When you're an injured singer, especially when you depend on singing   
   for your livelihood, the stakes are really high. Injured singers are   
   often reluctant to talk about their injury or ask questions among their   
   colleagues or community because injuries carry a stigma," said study   
   leader Lesley Childs, M.D., Associate Professor of Otolaryngology --   
   Head and Neck Surgery and Medical Director of the Voice Center at UT   
   Southwestern. "There are many opportunities for misinformation, so we   
   wanted to gather data to help dispel myths and counsel our patients on   
   the facts."  Toward that end, Dr. Childs and her colleagues, including   
   UTSW resident physician Ashwin Rao, M.D., and Ted Mau, M.D., Ph.D.,   
   Professor of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, reviewed charts   
   of all singers who sought care for vocal injuries at the Voice Center   
   between 2011 and 2019. A total of 438 patients between ages 8 and 78   
   who had never undergone prior surgery to correct vocal fold injuries   
   were seen during this period.   
      
   Searching for patterns, the researchers discovered that the most prevalent   
   injury by far was nodules, a callous-like injury that affected 58% of   
   these singers, followed by blister-like injuries called pseudocysts,   
   as well as polyps, cysts, and vocal fold hemorrhages. Although female   
   singers were more likely to develop nodules and pseudocysts, polyps and   
   cysts were more common in male singers. Polyps developed more frequently   
   with age in female patients, while young male singers were more likely   
   to develop nodules.   
      
   Dr. Childs and her colleagues found that professional status and a lack   
   of prior vocal training were the greatest risk factors. Professional   
   singers who had not taken voice lessons were eight times more likely to   
   need surgery than amateur singers with prior voice lessons.   
      
   Although the increased risk among professional singers is probably due to   
   the greater amount of singing time overall, the link with vocal training   
   is unclear, Dr. Childs said. Training may increase vocal proficiency,   
   and a history of voice lessons might make it easier for the injured to   
   follow vocal therapy protocols.   
      
   Regardless, she added, the data can help physicians reassure patients   
   who seek help at the Voice Center.   
      
   "For amateur and professional singers alike, vocal injuries can be   
   devastating, but our study suggests that these injuries need not be   
   career-ending," Dr.   
      
   Childs said. "With conservative management, most singers can get back   
   on track."  UT Southwestern's Voice Center, one of the largest in the   
   South, employs a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of passionate   
   voice care specialists to care for injured singers. Several members of   
   the Voice Center are singers themselves: Dr. Childs is a classically   
   trained soprano with experience in various professional chamber ensembles   
   as well as recording for Walt Disney Records, and all six of the Voice   
   Center's speech language pathologists are singers.   
      
   "We're very proud that we can offer this personal experience to our   
   patients and speak the unique language that singers use," she said.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by UT_Southwestern_Medical_Center. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Lesley F. Childs, Ashwin Rao, Ted Mau. Profile of Injured Singers:   
         Expectations and Insights. The Laryngoscope, 2022; DOI: 10.1002/   
         lary.30015   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220504151224.htm   
      
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