Read on Twitter
Reading beyond the headlines!
THREAD:
Right folks, let’s talk about THAT study that everyone’s on about.
Just reading the headlines without the full context can be misleading.
Here goes my take...
(/1)
THREAD:
Right folks, let’s talk about THAT study that everyone’s on about.
Just reading the headlines without the full context can be misleading.
Here goes my take...
(/1)
High profile COVID-19 clusters in choirs led a lot of govts to make the decision to specifically focus on singing as a risky possible super spreader of SARS-CoV-2.
But no one had investigated the risks of singing vs speaking...
(/2)
But no one had investigated the risks of singing vs speaking...
(/2)
The wonderful @Voicedoctor_uk, @surgeonsinger et al. decided to do this epic research in their non-existent “spare” time during a pandemic so that we can get some much needed answers.
Our industry owes them a debt.
(/3)
Our industry owes them a debt.
(/3)
So how did they do it??
25 professional performers singing into a funnel of course.
In an operating theatre.
Because science is awesome.
(/4)
25 professional performers singing into a funnel of course.
In an operating theatre.
Because science is awesome.
(/4)
What was being measured and why?
(/5)
(/5)
What did the singers serenade this funnel with? (Aside from breathing and coughing...)
(/6)
(/6)
Happy birthday to all the Susans out there 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">
Right so we’ve done the singing/speaking/breathing/coughing. What’s next?
(/7)
Right so we’ve done the singing/speaking/breathing/coughing. What’s next?
(/7)
Results! Part 1
(/8)
(/8)
Results! Part 2
(/9)
(/9)
What does it all mean?
Now here is when we get to the tricky part, because results can be phrased in different ways by us (and the media...) but I think the ultimate point is that ANY loud vocalisation is ‘risky’
(/10)
Now here is when we get to the tricky part, because results can be phrased in different ways by us (and the media...) but I think the ultimate point is that ANY loud vocalisation is ‘risky’
(/10)
Ok that sounds a bit bleak.
What can we do about it? How do we keep our audiences/performers/students safe?
Risk assessment considering:
Environment (ventilation)
Duration (length of rehearsal/performance)
Source (how many singers, how many audience members)
Volume (how LOUD)
/11
What can we do about it? How do we keep our audiences/performers/students safe?
Risk assessment considering:
Environment (ventilation)
Duration (length of rehearsal/performance)
Source (how many singers, how many audience members)
Volume (how LOUD)
/11
Let’s focus on ventilation and duration instead of giving our singers muscle tension issues from trying to sing quietly in genres that were not designed for it.
Ok great
(/12)
This study was super clear in what they intended to investigate. It does not have all the answers, but it was never meant to - it’s just another piece of the jigsaw. The fact that it sparks more questions is a mark of how thorough it was IMO
(/13)
(/13)
I can’t wait for more studies in this area that will now be able to use this data to inform their research.
Looking forward to when it’s officially peer-reviewed toohttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Angespannter Bizeps" aria-label="Emoji: Angespannter Bizeps">
(/14)
Looking forward to when it’s officially peer-reviewed too
(/14)
While the singing community is (rightly) focusing on this research (heads up @DeptAHG @cathmartingreen @artscouncil_ie) - I think the @HSELive and @roinnslainte should also consider it important for public health decisions
(/15)
(/15)
If loud talking is 20-30 times riskier than quiet talking, this is relevant research for noisy pubs/restaurants and schools to consider.
Ventilation should be taken seriously to keep everyone safe
(/16)
Ventilation should be taken seriously to keep everyone safe
(/16)
Bottom line: loud singing is not massively ‘worse’ than loud talking. HOWEVER - singing and speaking loudly both carry similar risks.
Ventilation is key.
Full article linked below.
Here endeth the thread.
(17/17) https://chemrxiv.org/articles/preprint/Comparing_the_Respirable_Aerosol_Concentrations_and_Particle_Size_Distributions_Generated_by_Singing_Speaking_and_Breathing/12789221">https://chemrxiv.org/articles/...
Ventilation is key.
Full article linked below.
Here endeth the thread.
(17/17) https://chemrxiv.org/articles/preprint/Comparing_the_Respirable_Aerosol_Concentrations_and_Particle_Size_Distributions_Generated_by_Singing_Speaking_and_Breathing/12789221">https://chemrxiv.org/articles/...
