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Nasalance, Nasal Airflow and Perceived Nasality in Carnatic Singers and Non-singers

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Abstract

This study aims to compare the nasalance and nasal airflow between professional singers trained in Carnatic classical singing and non-singers. We also aimed to correlate perceived nasality with objective measurements of nasalance and nasal airflow. A total of 40 female participants (20 to 50 years) were involved in this study. The first group comprised 15 female professional Carnatic singers with a minimum of 10 years of classical training. The second group consisted of 25 non-singer females. These participants were compared on nasalance, nasal airflow and perceived nasality across three sets of stimuli (vowels, oral non-words, and nasal non-words) and three pitch-conditions (low, mid, and high). Correlations were also made between objective measures of nasalance and nasal airflow and perceived nasality. Mixed ANOVA showed a significant (P < 0.05) interaction in nasalance between pitch conditions and groups. Group differences were also observed in the nasalance scores of vowels, oral non-words, nasal non-words. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in nasalance with ascending pitch in singers and non-singers. A comparison of aerodynamic analysis of vowels, oral non-words, and nasal non-words between singers and non-singers suggested that nasal airflow was higher in singers. Perceptual nasality was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in Carnatic singers than non-singers. Correlations between objective measures of nasalance and nasal airflow and perceived nasality were not observed. Despite an increased airflow, nasality was lower in trained Carnatic singers than non-singers. Current findings suggest that vocal training impacts nasalance, nasal airflow and perceived nasality.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Director, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, (a recognized research Centre of University of Mysore) for permitting to carry out this study.

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Speech-Language Sciences, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, Karnataka, 570006, India

    Thirunavukkarasu Jayakumar & Jesnu Jose Benoy

  2. Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kumaracoil, Tamil Nadu, India

    Vijaitha V. Soonan

  3. VVID (A Unit of VRehab Private Limited), Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    Vijitha Raj Thankamany

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  1. Thirunavukkarasu Jayakumar
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Contributions

TJ contributed to conceptualization, planning, data collection and analysis, and report writing. VVS, VRT contributed to data collection and analysis, and report writing. JJB contributed to data analysis, and report writing.

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Correspondence to Thirunavukkarasu Jayakumar.

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The procedures of this study adhered to ethical regulations set by the institutional ethical committee. We obtained informed consent from all the participants before initiating the procedures of this study. The authors have no ethical conflicts to disclose.

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Jayakumar, T., Soonan, V.V., Thankamany, V.R. et al. Nasalance, Nasal Airflow and Perceived Nasality in Carnatic Singers and Non-singers. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 76, 5–18 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-03994-w

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