International Multi-language Study of the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19 in Adult Singers published by Janette Ogg Voice Research Center

The first international multi-language study examining the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in adult singers was published in the Journal of Voice by Sophia Dove ’23 (Master of Music in Pedagogy), Kate Elmendorf ’23 (Master of Music in Pedagogy) and Leryn Turlington ’23 (Master of Music in Pedagogy), Director of the Janette Ogg Voice Research Center and Associate Professor of Voice (Baritone) and Voice Pedagogy David Meyer, D.M., and epidemiologists Dr. Christine Petersen and Dr. Kurayi Mahachi of the University of Iowa Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

This online survey examined singers (n = 1,153) in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe who contracted SARS-CoV-2. The survey was made available in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Traditional and Simplified Mandarin Chinese. Survey questions included demographics, peri- and post-SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms and self-reported sequelae attributed to long-COVID. Data were statistically analyzed to provide a useful summary of the sample and to evaluate associations between long-COVID and singers’ vocal function. Findings indicated that age, gender and vaccination status were not significantly correlated to a change in singing voice, but severity of infection correlated to a change in singing.

Of the 34 signs and symptoms presented, lingering cough, shortness of breath and chronic fatigue were significantly correlated with a change in singing voice. These data and their analyses have added to our understanding of this growing population’s unique vocal needs and may inform strategies for singing voice habilitation in COVID-19 survivors.