How Allergies Affect Performance:
- Drainage of nasal secretions onto the vocal cords
- Nasal congestion and sneezing affecting respiration.
- Mouth breathing that dries the airway
- Coughing irritating the vocal cords occ contact bumps on the cords (usually improving with time and speech therapy)
- Fatigue and disrupted sleep
Occupational Risks:
- Performers who work in old, dusy, musty theaters
- Drying effects of low humidity
- Theater set construction airborne particles, oders and dust
- Traveling performers who travel and stay in musty motels
- Theater “Fog” contains chemicals that may irritate the lungs triggering asthma symptoms
Allergy/Asthma Medications that can affect the voice
- Drying effects of antihistamines and decongestants
- Drainage of some liquid nasal sprays onto the vocal cords
- Laryngeal effects of certain inhaled steroid asthma medications (leading to hoarseness)
Evaluation of the singer should be comprehensive:
- Allergy testing
- Lung function testing
- Rhinolaryngoscopy (inspection of the upper airway with a small scope)
- When necessary, sinus CAT scans and immune evaluation for frequent respiratory infections
Treatment of Singers requires a cautious approach:
- Nasal sprays used for allergy should be lower volume and unscented
- Lower threshold for starting allergy injections to reduce sensitivity and need for medications
- Co-management with a laryngologist (ENT specially trained in voice)
Are singers more likely to get colds?
It has been proposed that singers may be more prone to respiratory tract infections. The “unphysiological way of breathing” by mouth during singing bypasses the protective nasal warming, humidification and filtering of inhaled air.
