Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Musical Theatre Actors: a preliminary study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To propose the Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Musical Theatre Actors (DRSP-MTA), to verify its applicability in association with the General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol (G-DRSP), to correlate the final scores of both, and these with the total risk score, and to compare the risk of dysphonia measured in musical theater actors with and without vocal complaint.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional study with 34 musical theater actors, adults, of both genders, with and without vocal complaints and regardless of whether they are professionals or students. The questionnaires were applied individually. Statistical analysis made it possible to verify the correlation between the dysphonia risk scores and to compare the groups with and without vocal complaint.

Results

Most of the participants were male, young adults, professional actors and without vocal complaint. There was a high risk of dysphonia, evidenced by the application of G-DRSP, with means scores compatible with values found in individuals with dysphonia, and reinforced by the indices found with DRSP-MTA application. There was a moderate and directly proportional correlation between the two questionnaire scores; and a correlation of both with the total risk score. Higher G-DRSP scores were observed in the vocal complaint group.

Conclusion

DRSP-MTA was feasible and easy to apply and was positively correlated with the total score and G-DRSP score. A high risk of dysphonia was evidenced in individuals with vocal complaints. Although the specific DRSP-MTA score did not differentiate musical theatre actors with and without vocal complaints, the G-DRSP score and the total risk score performed such differentiation.

Keywords
Voice; Voice Disorders; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Surveys and Questionnaires

RESUMO

Objetivo

Propor o Protocolo de Rastreio do Risco de Disfonia para Atores do Teatro Musical (PRRD-TM), verificar sua aplicabilidade em associação ao Protocolo de Rastreio do Risco de Disfonia Geral (PRRD-G), correlacionar escores finais de ambos, e desses com o escore total, e comparar o risco de disfonia entre atores com e sem queixa vocal.

Método

Estudo transversal observacional com 34 atores de teatro musical adultos, ambos os sexos, com e sem queixa vocal, profissionais ou estudantes. Os questionários foram aplicados individualmente. A análise estatística possibilitou verificar a correlação entre os escores de risco de disfonia e para comparação entre os grupos com e sem queixa vocal.

Resultados

A maioria dos participantes era do gênero masculino, jovens adultos, atores profissionais e sem queixa vocal. Observou-se elevado risco de disfonia, evidenciado pela aplicação do PRRD-G, com escores médios compatíveis com valores encontrados em indivíduos com disfonia, e reforçado pelos índices encontrados com aplicação do PRRD-TM. Observou-se correlação moderada e diretamente proporcional entre os escores dos dois questionários e desses com o escore total. Escores mais elevados do PRRD-G foram encontrados no grupo que apresentou queixa vocal.

Conclusão

O PRRD-TM mostrou-se viável e de fácil aplicabilidade e apresentou correlação positiva com o escore do PRRD-G e com o escore total. Elevado risco de disfonia foi evidenciado em indivíduos com queixa vocal. Apesar do escore específico do PRRD-TM não diferenciar atores de teatro musical com e sem queixa vocal, tanto o escore do PRRD-G quanto o escore total realizaram tal diferenciação.

Descritores
Voz; Distúrbios da Voz; Exposição Ocupacional; Saúde do Trabalhador; Inquéritos e Questionários

INTRODUCTION

The use of standardized and validated protocols favors speech therapy practice as it facilitates the comparison of results between different services and allows the realization of studies that direct and improve procedures, which contributes to evidence-based practice and provides better quality of care to the patient^(1-4).

The instrument for the initial voice investigation called General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol (G-DRSP), with the calculation of scores, showed high sensitivity to differentiate groups with and without dysphonia and demonstrated effectiveness in the voice clinic⁽⁴⁾. The same instrument was applied to individuals with different laryngeal diagnoses and its score was positively correlated with the degree of vocal alteration⁽⁵⁾.

The G-DRSP has its applicability indicated to individuals of any age group, gender and regardless of the professional use of the voice, allowing the study of the multiplicity of factors involved in the development of dysphonia⁽⁴⁾. The proposal is to analyze general factors related to the voice, being necessary to complement it with specific instruments according to the age group and profession. The Specific Teachers Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol (Specific-DRSP), for example, demonstrated that its score, associated with the G-DRSP score, supports the differentiation between groups with and without vocal disorders, in addition to providing relevant qualitative data for the evaluation and planning of speech-language therapy assistance with this particular professional category⁽⁶⁾.

One variable that can be extracted by applying the G-DRSP associated with a specific dysphonia risk screening protocol is the total dysphonia risk score. This score is represented by the simple sum of the General-DRSP score and the Specific-DRSP score. Theoretically, this total score makes it possible to quantify the risk of dysphonia in a manner consistent with the reality of the individual assessed, as it allows a single measurement, both of the general risks, to which the entire population may be exposed regardless of age and profession, as well as the specific risks related to different age groups or professions.

Concerning the voice of musical theater actors, there are many specificities to be considered. They are a special group within the vocal elite due to the need to sing, act and dance⁽⁷⁾, and are considered more susceptible to the development of vocal problems⁽⁸⁾. In the speech-language assessment of these professionals, in addition to aspects related to vocal production, it is necessary to understand the specific demands of each character, the possible adverse conditions concerning the environment, the preparation of the actor and the musical style of the production. It is important to consider the wide range of musical styles that exist in this scenario and the differences among them^(9-11). Besides, the structure of musical theater production that can involve grand scenarios and long choreographies stands out, which requires precise control of both vocal techniques (laryngeal adjustments, vocal tract and respiratory support) and expressive techniques⁽⁷⁾.

The need to combine projected singing and athletic dance, which is the basis of musical theater, in a journey of many rehearsals and presentations, presupposes physiological effects that need to be better known not only for the aesthetics of the musical but mainly for the well-being of the artist and his/her career longevity⁽¹²⁾.

However, data on vocal habits and symptoms and voice quality in this population are still limited⁽⁷⁾.

A specific investigation instrument to be used with musical theater actors will contribute to a deeper understanding of the risks and aspects that may interfere with their vocal performance.

The present study aimed to propose the Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Musical Theater Actors (DRSP-MTA), verify its applicability, correlate its specific score to the score of the General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol (G-DRSP) and with the total risk of dysphonia score and, finally, to compare the risk of dysphonia measured in musical theater actors with and without voice complaints.

Methods

Observational cross-sectional study approved by the Ethics Committee of the “Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo” (nº 0560/10).

The convenience sample consisted of 44 musical theater actors aged between 18 and 47 years old (average 25.7 years old; ± 6.08), of which 28 were men (17 professionals and 11 students) and 16 were women (8 professionals and 8 students).

Initially, each participant was asked: “Do you have any complaints related to your voice?”. Seventeen (39%) responded affirmatively and 27 (70%) reported not having a vocal complaint. Thus, two groups were established: with vocal complaints (WVC) and without vocal complaints (WOVC).

The WVC group was composed of: ten male participants (58.8%) and seven female (41.2%), eleven students (64.7%) and six professionals (35.3%), totaling 17 individuals (average 23.7 years old ± 4.01); the WOVC group was composed of eighteen male participants (66.7%) and nine female (33.3%) being eight students (29.6%) and nineteen professionals (70.4%) totaling 27 participants (average age of 27 years ± 6.86).

All individuals filled out the Free and Informed Consent Form and answered the G-DRSP⁽⁴⁾ and the DRSP-MTA, the latter being elaborated for the present study (^{Appendix A}). The questionnaires were applied by the same researcher, individually, in a quiet place and at the convenience of the participants.

For the preparation of the DRSP-MTA, a comprehensive review of the literature on the subject was carried out and two pilot applications were made for the necessary adjustments. Pilot application data was not included in this study.

Both G-DRSP and DRSP-MTA allow the calculation of partial scores and a total score. The G-DRSP score can vary from zero to 131 points and the DRSP-MTA score from zero to 166 points. In both, the more negative the response, the higher the score and the greater the risk. For the G-DRSP, the cut-off score for high risk of dysphonia was defined, 22.75 for adult men and 29.25 for adult women⁽⁴⁾.

The DRSP-MTA is composed of 28 questions, of which four are qualitative and 24 scored in subscores (presenting sub-items), they are: the career moment, performance in other professions, artistic training, singing class, dance class, physical preparation, rehearsals, use of the microphone, environmental conditions, self-reported breathing type, difficulties in maintaining vocal quality, function in production, vocal quality before artistic practice, vocal quality after artistic practice, stress, vocal warm-up and cooling, daily vocal use, smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, using a dental prosthesis, specific issues for women, signs and symptoms.

For this study, the two total scores were considered, in addition to creating a final risk score for dysphonia (RS) from the simple sum between them (G-DRSP + DRSP-MTA; range from zero to 298).

Data analysis was descriptive and inferential. To define the statistical analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was applied. To analyze the correlation between the final scores of the two instruments applied, Pearson's Correlation test was used, with an interpretation of the correlation coefficient based on Dancey and Reidy⁽¹²⁾, who point to a weak correlation with a coefficient from 0.1 to 0.3, moderate from 0.4 to 0.6 and strong from 0.7 to 1; Student's t-test was used to compare the scores between the WVC and WOVC groups. The level of significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS

In the sample of 44 actors, averages of 40.58 (± 15.48) were observed in the G-DRSP, 58.39 (± 15.80) in the DRSP-MTA and 98.98 (± 26.86) in the total score. The values obtained in each group were: WVC = 51.12 (± 17.26) in G-DRSP, 60.82 (± 17.38) in DRSP-MTA and 111.95 (± 30.38) in the total score (G-DRSP + DRSP-MTA); WOVC = 33.95 (± 9.74) in G-DRSP, 56.86 (± 14.85) in DRSP-MTA and 90.82 (± 21.13) in the RS.

The DRSP-MTA score showed a moderate positive correlation with the G-DRSP score, both in the WVC and WOVC groups. It was also positively correlated with the RS in both groups, with a strong correlation in both the WOVC and WVC groups, the same occurred with the G-DRSP score, which showed a positive and strong correlation with the RS in both groups (Table 1).

Table 1
Analysis of correlation between questionnaire scores by group with and without vocal complaints

			Scores
Groups	Scores		DRSP-MTA	G-DRSP	Total
With Vocal Complaint	DRSP-MTA	Pearson's correlation	1.000	.537	.878
		Significance		.026*	.000*
		n	17	17	17
	G-DRSP	Pearson's correlation	.537	1.000	.876
		Significance	.026*		.000*
		n	17	17	17
No Vocal Complaint	DRSP-MTA	Pearson's correlation	1.000	.453	.912
		Significance		.018*	.000*
		n	17	27	27
	G-DRSP	Pearson's correlation	.453	1.000	.779
		Significance	.018*		.000*
		n	27	27	27

• Pearson’s correlation test
• ^*
  Statistically significant
• Caption: DRSP-MTA = Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Musical Theater Actors; G-DRSP = General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol

The RS and the G-DRSP score differentiated musical theater actors with and without vocal complaints, identifying higher averages in the WVC group for both scores (Table 2).

Table 2
Comparison between groups with and without vocal complaints concerning the questionnaire scores

Scores		Groups		p-value
		With vocal complaint	Without vocal complaint
DRSP-MTA	Average	60.82	56.86
	Standard deviation	17.38	14.85	0.424
	n	17	27
G-DRSP	Average	51.12	33.95
	Standard deviation	17.26	9.74	0.001*
	n	17	27
Total	Average	111.95	90.82
	Standard deviation	30.38	21.13	0.009*
	n	17	27

• Student t-test
• ^*
  Statistically significant
• Caption: DRSP-MTA = Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Musical Theater Actors; G-DRSP = General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol

DISCUSSION

When considering the cutoff points for low and high risk of reference dysphonia⁽⁶⁾, there was a high risk of dysphonia in musical theater actors complaining of voice changes. Also, the G-DRSP score values ​​observed are close to the average found in individuals with dysphonia⁽⁶⁾. Laryngological findings⁽⁷⁾, high vocal load⁽⁸⁾ and the results of the present study reinforce the need for research with this population, identifying and describing their needs and risks, both in students and professionals; besides, explaining the need for specific training programs⁽¹³⁾.

Musical theater actors have a high vocal demand and also a high demand for vocal quality⁽¹⁴⁾. Thus, vocal changes, even if mild, can have a strong impact on their careers. Excellence in performing specific vocal adjustments for each character and in each artistic production is required of them; both adjustments concerning the glottic source and related to the vocal tract and breathing⁽¹³⁾. Besides, there is a high vocal load composed of the volume of weekly presentations, rehearsals and choreographies, which are often complex and associated with the use of voice⁽⁷⁾. Any problem, whether vocal, physical, or emotional, can compromise the actor's performance and result in difficulties for him to establish himself in the job market^(7,8,10).

Regardless of the presence or absence of vocal complaints, the average scores obtained with the application of the screening protocols indicated a high risk of dysphonia⁽⁴⁾. The average value obtained in the G-DRSP, in addition to being above the cutoff point for high risk of dysphonia⁽⁴⁾, is close to the average found in individuals who presented dysphonia⁽⁴⁾. Laryngological findings⁽⁷⁾, high vocal load⁽⁸⁾ and the results of the present study reinforce the need for research with this population, identifying and describing their needs and risks, both in students and professionals; besides, explaining the need for specific training programs⁽¹³⁾.

In this context, the DRSP-MTA was innovative in its proposal and, in addition to bringing quantitative questions, it offers qualitative data relevant to the screening of the risk of dysphonia in musical theater actors.

The positive correlations between the DRSP-MTA and G-DRSP scores, both in the group with vocal complaints and in the group without complaints, reinforce the importance of associating both questionnaires in the investigation of the risk of dysphonia in this population⁽⁶⁾. The more present the general risks the more present the specific risks mentioned by the musical theater actor. This evidence is also reinforced by the positive correlations observed between the total score and the G-DRSP and DRSP-MTA scores, also observed in both groups (WVC and WOVC).

The presence of vocal complaints was determinant for a higher risk of dysphonia, as evidenced by the G-DRSP and the total score. The subscores available in this questionnaire may be analyzed in the future to detail this difference. Previous research has shown the questionnaire efficiency in differentiating individuals with and without dysphonia⁽⁴⁾.

The DRSP-MTA score did not differentiate the WVC and WOVC groups. Questioning the actor about complaints related to the voice can give rise to several interpretations, as for some it may reflect difficulties in specific adjustments of speech and singing⁽⁷⁾. For others, it may be related to the presence of changes in vocal quality, for example. The finding of the present research may be indicative that, in this case, the vocal complaint would be more related to general aspects such as vocal signs and symptoms, comorbidities and previous vocal changes, which can be explored in the continuity of the study on this theme.

Another study⁽⁷⁾ found a high prevalence of negative vocal signs and symptoms in 31 musical theater students, such as vocal fatigue, dry throat and vocal tract discomfort, but which were not associated with the presence of vocal disorders. Even so, a high occurrence of laryngological changes was found, such as inflammatory lesions, which may also explain, at least in part, some of the referred signs and symptoms⁽⁷⁾. The symptom most mentioned in another study was also vocal fatigue, in this case not always considered by the actors as something negative, but a consequence of excessive effort/dedication⁽⁸⁾. They also indicated breathiness, difficulty in reaching high notes and discomfort in the throat⁽⁸⁾.

The need for specific training was highlighted in a study that demonstrated breathing difficulties when singing and dancing occur simultaneously in the musical theater, which can lead to overload, discomfort and loss of aesthetic quality⁽¹³⁾.

Musical theater actors with vocal complaints had a higher RS than those without vocal complaints, general and specific risks. This finding confirms the hypothesis of the applicability of this variable and indicates the need for studies that encompass it.

Among the actors with vocal complaints, many were students. Some authors believe that professional actors have a better command of vocal techniques for singing in musical theater and therefore would have a slightly lower risk than students⁽¹¹⁾. On the other hand, professionals may be involved in more exhaustive theatrical productions in terms of required performance, the number of rehearsals and presentations and inadequate environment, which can also interfere with adequate rest time and little dedication to aspects of vocal well-being such as vocal warm-up and cool-down practices⁽⁷⁾.

Another important aspect to be considered in this population is the presence of comorbidities that can interfere with the voice. A study with musical theater students found a high prevalence of anxiety or stress⁽⁷⁾.

The other data collected with the application of the two questionnaires involve the survey of signs and symptoms, routine and work environment, tests and presentations, in addition to those related to hydration, smoking, and comorbidities, among others. And all will be analyzed in the continuity of this study, in association with voice assessment data, to broaden the analysis, including regarding the relationship between complaints of dysphonia and the presence of vocal disorders, and possible associations between the presence of complaints and/or dysphonia, general and specific risk scores and laryngeal changes.

In addition, the impact of such intense vocal load on the vocal function, necessary in this type of performance, needs to be better known to prevent or at least reduce the damage⁽⁸⁾. Music theater teachers are concerned with the risks of singing styles as they are highly exhausting, physically and vocally, and it is essential that teaching takes place efficiently and safely⁽¹⁵⁾.

Expanding specific qualitative and quantitative knowledge about musical theater actors will contribute to the development of more targeted and effective practices for this population.

CONCLUSION

The preliminary results of the present study indicate that the proposed DRSP-MTA enabled the qualitative and quantitative survey of specific information about performance in the musical theater, being easy to apply and interpret with this population.

The actors had a high risk of dysphonia by G-DRSP and DRSP-MTA and there was a correlation between the scores of the two questionnaires, suggesting the associated application of both.

The G-DRSP score and the total score were higher among those with vocal complaints. In the group with vocal complaints, there was a significant presence of students.

Appendix A Dysphonic Risk Screening Protocol Specific for Musical Theatre Actors (DRSP-MTA)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq) and all the artists participating in the study who kindly and patiently collaborated to advance science.

• Study conducted at Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo – USP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil.
• Financial support: Scientific Initiation Scholarship PIBIC, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), process nº 146636/2016-3.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Apr 2021
• Date of issue
  2021

History

• Received
  15 Apr 2019
• Accepted
  12 Mar 2020