Home  About us  Contact
 

Voice Analysis (voice + analysis)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences83%

Selected Abstracts

Fascia Augmentation of the Vocal Fold: Graft Yield in the Canine and Preliminary Clinical Experience,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 5 2001
Sanford G. Duke MD
Abstract Introduction Glottal insufficiency resulting from vocal fold bowing, hypomobility, or scar is frequently treated by injection augmentation. Injection augmentation with fat, collagen, gel foam, polytef, and recently, fascia lata has been previously reported. Variable graft yield and poor host-tissue tolerance have motivated the continued search for an ideal graft substance. Study Design A prospective trial of autologous fascia augmentation of the vocal cord in the human and in an animal model. Methods Autologous fascia injection augmentation (AFIA) was evaluated in 8 canines and 40 patients at our institution between 1998 and 2000. The animal study compared graft yield from AFIA with autologous fat yield. The outcome measure was graft yield calculated from histological examination of larynges 12 weeks after injection augmentation. Clinical trial outcome measures included symptom surveys, acoustical voice analyses, and subjective voice assessments. Mean follow-up was 9 months. Results In the canine larynx, the mean graft yield for AFIA was 33% (range, 5%,84%) compared with autologous lipoinjection (47%; range, 7%,96%;P = .57). Subjective improvement in vocal quality was reported by 95% of patients (38 of 40) after AFIA. Preoperative and postoperative voice analysis data were obtained from 26 patients. Subjective voice rating demonstrated a significant improvement after AFIA (P <.0001). Acoustical parameters of jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, phonatory range, and degree unvoiced improved significantly (P <.05) in all patients after fascia augmentation. Conclusions Based on the animal study, we concluded that graft yields are excellent but variable for AFIA. The result is similar in variability and overall yield to autologous lipoinjection. Subjective and objective analyses of voice outcomes after AFIA are universally improved. Fascia appears to be an excellent alternative to lipoinjection in properly selected cases of glottic insufficiency. [source]

The efficacy of voice therapy in patients after treatment for early glottic carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 1 2006
Christine D. L. van Gogh M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND After treatment for early glottic carcinoma, a considerable number of patients end up with voice problems that interfere with daily life activities. The objective of this randomized and controlled study was to assess the efficacy of voice therapy in these patients. METHODS Of 177 patients, 6,120 months after treatment for early glottic carcinoma, 70 patients (40%) suffered from voice impairment based on a 5-item screening questionnaire. Approximately 60% of those 70 patients were not interested in participating in the current study. Twenty-three patients who were willing to participate were assigned randomly either to a voice therapy group (n = 12 patients) or to a control group (n = 11 patients). Multidimensional voice analyses (the self-reported Voice Handicap Index [VHI], acoustic and perceptual voice quality analysis, videolaryngostroboscopy, and the Voice Range Profile) were conducted twice: before and after voice therapy or with 3 months in between for the control group. RESULTS Statistical analyses of the difference in scores (postmeasurement minus premeasurement) showed significant voice improvement after voice therapy on the total VHI score, percent jitter, and noise-to-harmonics ratio in the voice signal and on the perceptual rating of vocal fry. CONCLUSIONS Voice therapy proved to be effective in patients who had voice problems after treatment for early glottic carcinoma. Improvement not only was noticed by the patients (VHI) but also was confirmed by objective voice parameters. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source]

Injection versus medialization laryngoplasty for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 9 2010
Follow-Up at Six Months
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine whether injection laryngoplasty or medialization laryngoplasty is more effective in the long-term treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Study Design: A retrospective study of patients with UFVP who underwent either injection or medialization laryngoplasty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences between July 29, 2003 and November 18, 2005. Methods: The data analyzed included patient characteristics and type of intervention, along with the pretreatment and post-treatment parameters of videostrobolaryngoscopy, perceptual voice analysis, and patients' subjective assessment of voice handicap. Results: Thirty-four patients were evaluated, 15 new and 19 from a previous study. The average time from intervention to post-treatment evaluation in the new cohort was 4.8 months (range, 1.5,10.5 months). The average time from intervention to post-treatment in the combined cohort was 6.4 months (range, 1,24 months). Improvements were demonstrated in each of the measured voice parameters in both the injection and the medialization groups, and no significant differences were found in the degree of improvement between the two groups. Limited data on aerodynamic and acoustic voice measurements showed a trend toward improvement in each treatment group. Conclusions: Injection and medialization laryngoplasty were comparable in achieving voice improvement at the average long-term follow-up of 6 months. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source]

Injection Versus Medialization Laryngoplasty for the Treatment of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2007
Justin E. Morgan MD
Abstract Objective/Hypothesis: To determine whether injection laryngoplasty or medialization laryngoplasty is more effective in the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Study Design: A retrospective study of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis who underwent either injection or medialization laryngoplasty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences between July 29, 2003 and March 8, 2005. Methods: The data analyzed included patient characteristics and type of intervention, along with the pretreatment and posttreatment voice parameters of videostrobolaryngoscopy, perceptual analysis, and patients' subjective voice assessment. Results: Nineteen patients were evaluated. The average time from intervention to posttreatment evaluation was 3 (range, 1,9) months. Improvements were demonstrated in all three voice parameters in both the injection and the medialization groups. No significant differences were found in the degree of improvement between the two groups. Videostrobolaryngoscopy and the perceptual analysis, both rated by the authors, correlated well with each other, but they both correlated poorly with the patients' subjective voice analysis. Conclusions: Injection and medialization laryngoplasty were comparable in their improvement of subjective and objective voice outcomes. Both treatment modalities should be included in the otolaryngologist's armamentarium for managing unilateral vocal fold paralysis. [source]

Acoustic Analysis of the Voice in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Recipients: A Longitudinal Study,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 6 2005
FRCSC, P Campisi MSc
Abstract Objective: To characterize inherent acoustic abnormalities of the deaf pediatric voice and the effect of artificially restoring auditory feedback with cochlear implantation. Design: Inception cohort. Setting: Academic referral center. Patients: Twenty-one children with severe to profound hearing loss (15 prelingually deaf, 6 postlingually deaf) accepted into the cochlear implant program were followed for up to 6 months. Patients unable to perform the vocal exercises were excluded. Interventions: Objective voice analysis was performed using the Computerized Speech Laboratory (Kay Elemetrics) prior to cochlear implantation, at the time of implant activation and at 2 and 6 months postactivation. Assessments were based on sustained phonations and dynamic ranges. Main Outcome Measure: Fundamental frequency, long-term control of fundamental frequency (vF0) and long-term control of amplitude (vAM) were derived from sustained phonations. The dynamic frequency range was derived from scale exercises. Formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3) were determined using linear predictive coding. Results: Fundamental frequency was not altered by implant activation or experience (P = 0.342). With profoundly deaf subject, the most prevalent acoustic abnormality was a poor long-term control of frequency (vF0, 2.81%) and long-term control of amplitude (vAm, 23.58%). Implant activation and experience had no effect on the long-term control of frequency (P = 0.106) but normalized the long-term control of amplitude (P = 0.007). The mean frequency range increased from 311.9 Hz preimplantation to 483.5 Hz postimplantation (P = 0.08). The F1/F2 ratio remained stable (P = 0.476). Conclusion: In children, severe to profound deafness results in poor long-term control of frequency and amplitude. Cochlear implantation restores control of amplitude only and implies the need for additional rehabilitative strategies for restoration of control of frequency. [source]

Surgical anatomy of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and its clinical significance in head and neck surgery

CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 2 2008
Xenophon Kochilas
Abstract Injury of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) increases the morbidity following a variety of neck procedures and can have catastrophic consequences in people who use their voice professionally. Identification and preservation of the EBSLN are thus important in thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, carotid endarterectomy, and anterior cervical spine procedures, where the nerve is at risk. There are large variations in the anatomical course of the EBSLN, which makes the intraoperative identification of the nerve challenging. The topographic relationship of the EBSLN to the superior thyroid artery and the upper pole of the thyroid gland are considered by many authors to be the key point for identifying the nerve during surgery of the neck. The classifications by Cernea et al. ([1992a] Head Neck 14:380,383; [1992b] Am. J. Surg. 164:634,639) and by Kierner et al. ([1998] Arch. Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg. 124:301,303), as well as clinically important connections are discussed in detail. Along with sound anatomical knowledge, neuromonitoring is helpful in identifying the EBSLN during neck procedures. The clinical signs of EBSLN injury include hoarseness, decreased voice projection, decreased pitch range, and fatigue after extensive voice use. Videostroboscopy, electromyography, voice analysis, and electroglottography can provide crucial information on the function of the EBSLN following neck surgery. Clin. Anat. 21:99,105, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]