Objective: To describe the laryngeal diagnoses and patient characteristics of treatment-seeking singers and to explore the relationship between self-reported Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily (EASE) scores, laryngeal diagnoses and patient characteristics.
Methods: A retrospective audit of de-identified data was undertaken using a cross-sectional, descriptive study design. Data including demographic information (i.e. age, gender, singing genre, level of professional expertise), EASE scores, and laryngeal diagnoses were obtained from a multidisciplinary clinic in Melbourne, Australia between 2019-2024. Descriptive and statistical analyses were applied.
Results: 1134 singer patients were included (mean age 32 years, range 18-87; 67% female). 24% were amateur, 38% professional casual, 28% professional full-time and 8% elite singers. Most frequent genres included 42% contemporary, 28% musical theatre, 8% opera and 8% choral. 35% of singers had a phonotraumatic lesion (37% female, 29% male) and 35% had mild swelling (31% female, 44% male). Median total EASE score was 49 (range of 22-80). Total EASE scores and EASE subscale scores were significantly higher for females than males (p<.001). Total EASE scores and EASE subscale scores were significantly different across genres with higher total and subscale VF & PRI scores for heavy metal, choral and contemporary singers compared with opera singers. Total EASE scores and EASE subscale scores were significantly different across level of professional expertise groups with higher total EASE scores and EASE subscale scores for amateur singers compared to elite singers.
Conclusion: This paper provides a profile of diagnosed voice conditions and self-reported EASE scores in a large cohort of treatment-seeking singers, including the relationships between EASE scores, demographic characteristics and diagnostic voice findings. This study is the first to report EASE scores in a large cohort of treatment-seeking singers of all singing genres. This guides clinical services and provides the foundation for further research exploring voice problems in singers.