The Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale: an analysis of singers with dysphonia and without vocal complaints

• Published in: CoDAS (São Paulo) 2022-01, Vol.34 (6)
• Main Authors: Lopes, Thalita Ferreira Rodrigues, Lobo, Bárbara Pereira Lopes, Gama, Ana Cristina Côrtes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2317-1782; 2317-1782
• DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20212021095en

ABSTRACT Purpose To analyze and compare the degree of cervical disability in singers with dysphonia and in singers without self-reported vocal complaints. Methods A cross-sectional observational analysis. Sixty-two singers participated in the study: Thirty-two singers without vocal complaints and 30 singers with a speech-language pathology and otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of dysphonia. For singers without vocal complaints, two questionnaires were applied via Google Forms: A three-question questionnaire regarding vocal complaints and how each singer perceived their speaking and singing voice, and the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS). Data on singers with dysphonia were extracted from a database previously collected by a team of researchers at the speech-language pathology department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. The difference in data collection methodology between the two groups was due to restrictions presented by the coronavirus pandemic. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the two groups, at a significance level of 5%. Results There was a significant difference between the groups (p=0.0001), demonstrating that singers with dysphonia suffered more from cervical pain and discomfort than singers without vocal complaints. Conclusion Singers with dysphonia have more cervical pain and discomfort than singers without vocal complaints, thus presenting with greater cervical disability. RESUMO Objetivo analisar e comparar o grau de incapacidade cervical em cantoras disfônicas e em cantoras sem queixas vocais autorreferidas. Método estudo observacional analítico transversal. Participaram do estudo 32 cantoras sem queixas vocais e 30 cantoras com diagnóstico fonoaudiológico e otorrinolaringológico de disfonia. Para as cantoras sem queixas vocais foram utilizados dois questionários aplicados virtualmente via GoogleForms, sendo um questionário composto por três perguntas referentes às queixas vocais e como cada cantora percebia sua voz de falada e de forma cantada e a Escala Funcional de Incapacidade do Pescoço de Copenhagen (EFIPC). Os dados referentes às cantoras disfônicas foram extraídos de um banco de dados previamente coletado por uma equipe de pesquisadores no Observatório de Saúde Funcional em Fonoaudiologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais e a diferença na metodologia de coleta de dados entre os dois grupos deu-se devido às restrições apresentadas pela pandemia causada pelo coronavírus. Para a comparação entre