Can CPAP Affect Singing?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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KylaManhattan
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Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by KylaManhattan » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:25 pm

Are there any singers hereabouts, or others who might have some insight into whether and how CPAP treatment affects vocal cords?

I’ve been on CPAP for about a year. The first month was exhausting and frustrating, but since then, I have experienced steady incremental improvements in my overall sense of health and well-being. I am not looking for a reason to stop CPAP treatment.

I’m a choral singer, and recently developed a vocal problem unlike anything I have previously experienced. It is not the sort of hoarseness that one might experience with a cold, allergies, or even overuse. Rather, it is a sort of sustained flutter or vibratory effect. Did you ever clip a baseball card to the wheel of your bicycle with a clothes pin? It kind of sounds like that, and can occur anywhere in my vocal range, but is somewhat more prominent in my lower register. (Laryngitis would typically affect the upper register more…)

While I wait for my appointment with an ENT, I thought I’d ask if anyone knew of any possible effects that CPAP treatment might have on the larynx or vocal cords. For example, can CPAP dry out vocal cords or otherwise make them stiffer? (I don’t know that that’s what is actually happening – it just feels/sounds that way …)

And if there are any known effects, has anyone heard of strategies for ameliorating them?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have. This community is wonderful source of information and inspiration; without the encouragement and reassurance I found here, I doubt that I would have stuck with it past the first week!

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Sheriff Buford
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by Sheriff Buford » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:31 pm

Couldn't tell you. I sound like a cat when someone steps on his tail...

Sheriff

RestedRebel
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by RestedRebel » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:30 pm

Actually, people have told me that my voice has changed for the better, but that's a speaking voice. My voice was always quite hoarse before, and once I started using the CPAP machine, it's sounding younger and more pleasant from what my family has told me. Since I can't carry a tune, I can't help answer your question with regards to your singing voice.

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Black Shampoo
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by Black Shampoo » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:43 pm

I'm a singer as well - rock/pop, but trained - and in 5 months of use, I've definitely noticed a change. It seems to be for the better - I was always half-hoarse before, and would lose my voice quite quickly even though I was warming up and using it properly. I feel generally better throughout the throat and seem to be able to work with my palate better, especially when singing in head voice.

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Xney
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by Xney » Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:38 am

How is your humidification? Do you ever wake up with a dry throat/mouth? Have leaks?

Throat irritation from sinus and/or allergies could be doing that sort of thing, though usually xPAP makes it better, not worse.

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KylaManhattan
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by KylaManhattan » Sat Apr 27, 2013 12:18 pm

Thanks for the thoughts and the giggles. I'll pass along any relevant info I get from the ENT.

To Black Shampoo -- Interesting observations. I have experienced some improvements in my head voice since starting CPAP, and definitely have recovered some of my upper range. I am frustrated, though, by this oddity occurring in my lower range.

To Xney -- My humidification is comfortable, and I don't seem to have a big leak problem. I wake up -- and go to sleep -- with a dry mouth because of (a) medication and (b) the loss of one salivary gland years ago. It is possible that what I am experiencing is a manifestation of allergy/sinus problems; around this part of the country, people are saying it's one of the worst years ever, and I have certainly had other symptoms of spring allergies. Achoo!

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kteague
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by kteague » Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:21 pm

That's a good question. I have a friend on CPAP who sings so I'll be watching this for him. I am going to ask him about his humidification. My singing is not a pleasant thing, though I used to enjoy it in church. My voice became erratic and sometimes wouldn't even come out so they scoped me. Said I had a small nodule but since I wasn't singing for a living they didn't recommend surgery. They suspected my pretty bad reflux was a contributor. Surprisingly to me, after a lengthy time on CPAP my reflux improved and my voice. Still don't sound good, but if I try to sing at least sound now comes out (not that anyone around wants it to). My grandson who sings struggles with the effect of allergies on his voice. Meds dry him out which is not good, but neither is drainage. Since he travels for the purpose of singing and recording, the allergies are a real big deal. I've wondered if breathing humidfied filtered air at night might be a good thing for him, but that's a reach.

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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by BlackSpinner » Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:06 pm

KylaManhattan wrote: To Black Shampoo -- Interesting observations. I have experienced some improvements in my head voice since starting CPAP, and definitely have recovered some of my upper range. I am frustrated, though, by this oddity occurring in my lower range.

To Xney -- My humidification is comfortable, and I don't seem to have a big leak problem. I wake up -- and go to sleep -- with a dry mouth because of (a) medication and (b) the loss of one salivary gland years ago. It is possible that what I am experiencing is a manifestation of allergy/sinus problems; around this part of the country, people are saying it's one of the worst years ever, and I have certainly had other symptoms of spring allergies. Achoo!
Your dry mouth - make 100% sure you are not mouth breathing with a nasal mask.
Check for silent acid reflux. That can do a number on everything from the teeth down.

There was an article this month in my local newspaper that you may want to follow up.
Ley said the vibrator can also stretch the capabilities of people with healthy voices. If he holds the vibrator on various “sweet spots” — the points just below the cheek bone, for instance, or on the top of the head — his voice automatically changes, becoming brassy and bold for the Broadway Belt, or round and full as his mouth cavern transforms into a resonant church cathedral.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/V ... story.html

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:32 pm

I had blamed my reduced vocal range on aging; cpap brought back most of my missing notes.

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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by Sheffey » Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:35 pm

Can CPAP Affect Singing?
Take the mask off!
Sheffey

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KylaManhattan
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by KylaManhattan » Thu May 16, 2013 11:20 pm

This is a follow-up on my earlier question about whether CPAP can affect one's singing voice.

I visited an ENT who looked at my vocal cords with a flexible scope. He said that the vocal cords were inflamed and swollen but there were no signs of polyps or nodes.

I asked specifically about whether CPAP could be the cause of the voice problems I was experiencing and he said he strongly doubted it -- that he could more easily imagine a possible impact on the nasal cavity than on structures in the throat. He hypothesized three possible causes: silent reflux, spring allergies, or overuse. So I'm into my second week of Prilosec, a nasal inhalant, and vocal rest (absolutely no singing and minimal talking). If my symptoms don't resolve after a few weeks, I'll be referred to a voice clinic at a nearby university hospital.

One of the people who responded to my initial post suggested silent reflux, something I'd never even heard of (but promptly googled). The doctor said that a couple of his colleagues who treat many singers had seen so many cases of silent reflux causing vocal problems that they routinely begin the investigatory process now with prescribing a proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec. (Unlike gastroesophageal disease or GERD, which tends to cause heartburn-type pain, laryngeal reflux disease doesn't typically cause painful symptoms until damage has progressed considerably -- hence the moniker "silent reflux.")

Thanks to all who contributed thoughts or humor to the original discussion!

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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by stillo » Fri May 17, 2013 12:01 am

Only when you wear it

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harry_spider
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by harry_spider » Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:57 am

"...it is a sort of sustained flutter or vibratory effect."

I have EXACTLY this. And it has ruined my singing. I sang for 25 years, sometimes 80 to 110 gigs a years. Mostly easy, acoustic pop, some rock band backgrounds. Never exerted, never sang to hoarseness, never pushed too hard. Scoped my throat; no nodules or cysts, vocal chords close and vibrate just fine. And when I do the opera "yawn", I can hit almost everything perfectly. But that's not how I sing normally, I never had to even think about technique. I'm curious as to what may have changed.

Right around the time I started using my CPAP, I started having breath issues when trying to sing; my voice flutters, warbles, cracks, the note disappears and all my breath is suddenly gone, like I'm gasping for air. I do not know if this is caused by the CPAP, but about a month after starting it up, this happened. My ENT, vocal coach, 2nd specialist are all puzzled.

searching for answers...

I observe that my pallette appears to flutter when these drop-out events occur; I can see the tissue flap when I look down my throat while singing. Is it possible that sleeping with positive pressure in the nasal cavity has somehow pushed/stretched this issue a tiny bit, and it's just getting in the way now? Anyone else find their singing voice now breaking, going into falsetto, or dropping off in mid-note?

I have gotten great benefit from the CPAP: better sleep, less mucous, fewer allergy issues, no snoring... but this vocal issue has destroyed my hobby / passion...

Guest

Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by Guest » Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:15 pm

I sing. Infrequently. A few minutes a day. (1-15).
Concurrent with starting CPAP in January, I've been walking a few hours a week and working out.
My voice has improved.

But will it get worse in time due to CPAP?

Please keep me posted on your progress..

- Phil

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Can CPAP Affect Singing?

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:00 pm

Phil; if you sign in, you can PM Kyla, and ask her.
She hasn't posted recently, but she is not gone.

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