Presentation: Tools for the Assessment of Breathing Pattern Disorders
According to the American Lung Association, nearly 34 million people in the US have received a diagnosis of lung disease. In this context, there are two viewpoints: healthy singing and singing for health, both of which require attention to biomechanical, biochemical and psychosocial aspects of breathing as dysfunctional breathing patterns can result from attempts to compensate for underlying pathology in any of these domains. Reduced respiratory capacity is associated with dysphonia, however, impaired and dysfunctional breathing patterns that exist in isolation or in the context of lung disease can alter the body’s chemistry, leading to cascading effects throughout the body, beyond the voice. Given the importance of breath in singing, having quick tools to aid in assessment of breath flow is helpful in both clinical and studio settings. In this presentation, we will review three low-tech tools (Brompton Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool, Nijmegen Questionnaire and Modified Assessment of Respiratory Movement) that are useful in evaluating and screening breathing patterns, and assisting in pedagogical and clinical decision making, including the necessity for referral to other health professionals.
Rachel Goldenberg, DMA
Dr. Rachel Goldenberg is a leading authority in singing and lung disease. Dr. Goldenberg’s doctoral dissertation focused on the use of singing lessons as an adjunctive airway clearance technique for cystic fibrosis and her article, “Singing for Respiratory Health: A Literature Review” was published in 2018 in the Journal of Voice. She has presented her dissertation research and continuing research in the use of singing for respiratory ailments across the United States, Canada and Europe. Since receiving her DMA in voice pedagogy from Shenandoah University in 2012, Dr. Goldenberg has taught voice, voice pedagogy and acting voice in a variety of settings including university and private practice. She previously worked as a voice consultant at Breathe Well Physio where she focused her work on helping people with lung disease through the “Breathe, Sing, Move!” and “Breathe, Speak, Pace” programs, and frequently assisted singers and other professional voice users experiencing setbacks. Dr. Goldenberg received her Master of Clinical Science degree in speech-language pathology from Western University in London, Canada, and holds degrees in music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. Goldenberg is a Level 2 Bradcliff Practitioner and currently works as a speech-language pathologist, singing voice specialist and voice teacher in northern New Jersey.
Financial Disclosure: Dr. Goldenberg has no financial relationships to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Dr. Goldenberg has no non-financial relationships to disclose.