Poteškoće s pjevačkim glasom u hrvatskih amaterskih i profesionalnih klasičnih pjevača

The aim of the study was to describe singing voice handicap in the Croatian professional and amateur classical singers. This cross-sectional study included 69 professionals (median age 47.5 interquartile range 42.0-55.8 years) and 41 amateurs (median age 30.0, interquartile range 25.0-41.0 years). Participants completed the Croatian version of the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI-36), self-rated the severity of singing voice problem on another scale and answered questions about their age, gender, voice type and self-perceived average number of singing hours per week in the past three months. Cronbach’s alpha of the Croatian version of the SVHI was 0.97 in amateurs, and 0.98 in professionals. SVHI scores significantly differed across the categories of self-perceived singing voice problem in amateurs (P=0.001) and professionals (P<0.001). Median SVHI score was 16.7 (interquartile range 7.6-29.2) in amateurs and 13.8 (interquartile range 5.9-30.2) in professionals. Higher SVHI score was associated with more severe self-perceived singing voice problem in amateurs (ρ=0.63, P<0.001) and professionals (ρ=0.68, P<0.001). Amateurs and professionals did not significantly differ in the self-perceived singing voice problem (P=0.698), nor the SVHI score (P=0.538). Compared to the professionals, amateurs more often reported voice breaks (P=0.009) and the trouble with loud singing (P=0.020), and were less concerned about losing money because of their singing problems (P=0.022). Croatian classical singers mostly had mild singing voice problems. Voice difficulties in amateurs indicate the importance of learning vocal technique. It is necessary to balance work commitments with vocal rest to preserve workability in professional classical singers.