Singing experience influences swallowing function

Abstract It has recently been shown that the aging population is refractory to the maintenance of swallowing function, which can seriously affect quality of life. Singing and vocal training contribute to mastication, swallowing and respiratory function. Previous studies have shown that singers have better vocal cord health. No consensus has been reached as to how vocal training affects swallowing function. Our study was designed to establish evidence that singers are statistically superior at swallowing function. In an effort to test our hypothesis we undertook a clinical trial on 55 singers and 141 non-singers (mean age: 60.1 ± 11.7 years). This cross-sectional study with propensity score matching resulted in significant differences in the repetitive saliva swallowing test among singers: 7.1 ± 2.4, n =53 vs non-singers: 5.9 ± 1.9, n =53, p < 0.05. We therefore conclude that singing can serve an important role in stabilizing the impact of age-related disease on speech.