Awareness of Voice Symptoms and Gender Predisposition in South Indian Carnatic Singers using The Singing Voice Handicap Index

Yeshoda Krishna; Revathi Raveendran

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Voice is crucial for communication and thereby the quality of life. This study was carried out with the objectives: a) to find out the differences among the physical, functional, and emotional domains of SVHI 10 and b) to check for gender predisposition, if any, in the estimated singing voice handicap symptoms. Method: 38 trained Carnatic classical singers (19 males and 19 females) from the South Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala between 25- 40 years were the participants. SVHI 10 was administered using the Google online forms sent as link addresses to the participants’ e-mail addresses with a time period of one week for the response. IBM SPSS Statistics software (2.0) used for statistical analyses. Results: Significant difference noticed between the domains: functional, physical and emotional. Pairwise analysis of the domains along with descriptive statistical analysis showed that the functional domain had higher scores in comparison with the other domains. Further, no gender effect was seen in the perception of singing voice handicap even though the mean and median values were higher in male than female participants. Conclusion: Results, in general, imply that a decreased impact on the SVHI 10-physical domain need not necessarily guarantee a healthy voice especially when the functional domain is affected. Changes in the vocal system may initially be manifested in the functional domain of the singer even when no complaints of voice problems emphasizing equal concern to the regression in the functional well-being of a singer. Keywords: Quality of life, Singing voice, survey, SVHI, Voice pathology Cite this Article Yeshoda Krishna, Revathi Raveendran. Awareness of Voice Symptoms and Gender Predisposition in South Indian Carnatic Singers using The Singing Voice Handicap Index. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Neuroscience. 2020; 10(2): 1–6p.