Overpressure and breathiness in spastic dysphonia. An acoustic (LTAS) and perceptual study

Pre- and postsurgical speech segments spoken by patients with spastic dysphonia were submitted to long-time-average-spectrum (LTAS) analysis and for perceptual assessment of breathiness and overpressure. Breathy phonation corresponded to a steep fall in the LTAS, while overpressured phonation produced higher spectral levels and a less steep fall. Mixed breathy-overpressured phonation produced a somewhat elevated spectrum. Post-surgical changes in overpressure are demonstrated by spectral shifts. Perceptual scores correlated well with the objective acoustic spectral measures.     

Long-term therapy for spasmodic dysphonia: acoustic and aerodynamic outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term aerodynamic, acoustic, and electromyographic effects of serial botulinum toxin (BT) injections in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia. DESIGN: Two-year, nonrandomized, controlled, before-after study. SETTING: Ambulatory care clinic at a single academic medical center. PATIENTS: A convenience sample of 91 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia evaluated and treated during 2 years and 64 age- and sex-matched controls. INTERVENTIONS: Injections of BT into the thyroarytenoid muscles in conjunction with electromyographic evaluation and acoustic and aerodynamic evaluation before and after serial BT injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Translaryngeal airflow, jitter, shimmer, signal-to-noise ratio, fundamental frequency, standard deviation of fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, and inappropriate muscle activity by electromyography. RESULTS: Translaryngeal airflow, jitter, and shimmer improved significantly after serial BT treatments and showed sustained improvement over time. Fundamental frequency, standard deviation of fundamental frequency, and signal-to-noise ratio did not change significantly after BT treatment. Electromyographic data suggested decreased inappropriate muscle activity with repeated BT injections. CONCLUSION: Treatment with BT provides ongoing relief of voice perturbations in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia who undergo long-term cumulative therapy.     

Phonetic effects of paralytic dysphonia

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine whether and how unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) affects the production and perception of voiced stop consonants as compared with unvoiced stops, and to analyze the phonetic effects of UVFP on the voicing feature. METHODS: Phonetic constructs pronounced by 7 male patients with UVFP and 5 normal male subjects were recorded. The 432 speech tokens consisted of intervocalic, prevocalic, and postvocalic stop consonants (/p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/) in the vowel contexts /a/ and /i/. Perceptual consonant identification testing was performed with 5 voice and speech professionals as listeners. The type and frequency of errors made in consonant identification were analyzed. Spectrographic analysis was used to analyze acoustic cues. RESULTS: The rate of correct consonant identification was significantly lower for tokens pronounced by patients with UVFP (77.3% versus 97.6%, p = .0001) because of incorrect identification of the voiced consonants, frequently perceived as their unvoiced homologues. Confusion between dental and alveolar place of articulation for unvoiced stops was also noted. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis alters the voiced-unvoiced stop consonant distinction and the dental-palatal stop consonant distinction in an experimental nonspeech context. This finding implies the existence of a phonetic handicap for patients with UVFP. Further studies should determine the effects of UVFP on global speech intelligibility.     

Objective aerodynamic and acoustic measurement of voice improvement after phonosurgery

HYPOTHESIS: Objective analysis of the outcome of phonosurgery is needed to allow comparison of different surgical techniques or indications, or both. We tried to demonstrate that measurement of mean oral airflow during the production of a sustained vowel could be used in combination with acoustic measurements such as jitter or shimmer for assessment of voice improvement after phonosurgery. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study included 27 consecutive patients who underwent phonosurgery during a 3-month period. METHOD: Perceptual analysis served as the "gold standard." Objective measurements (oral airflow, jitter, shimmer) on the most stable portion of a sustained vowel /a/ were made using the EVA system (SQ-Lab, Aix-en-Provence, France). RESULTS: Oral airflow was significantly greater in patients with poor perceptual results than in patients with good perceptual results. Jitter and shimmer were not significantly different because of the dispersion of the values. Discriminant factorial analysis showed that a combination of jitter, shimmer, and oral airflow was able to identify patients with good or poor perceptual results in 77% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Oral airflow allows simple, quick, and reliable assessment of the outcome of phonosurgery and can be used in everyday clinical practice.     

Objective evaluation of binaural summation through acoustic reflex measures

Objective: A previous study [Rawool, V. W. (2016). Auditory processing deficits: Assessment and intervention. New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., pp. 186–187] demonstrated objective assessment of binaural summation through right contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds (ARTs) in women. The current project examined if previous findings could be generalised to men and to the left ear. Design: Cross-sectional. Study sample: Sixty individuals participated in the study. Left and right contralateral ARTs were obtained in two conditions. In the alternated condition, the probe tone presentation was alternated with the presentation of the reflex activating clicks. In the simultaneous condition, the probe tone and the clicks were presented simultaneously. Binaural summation was calculated by subtracting the ARTs obtained in the simultaneous condition from the ARTs obtained in the alternated condition. Results: MANOVA on ARTs revealed no significant gender or ear effects. The ARTs were significantly lower/better in the simultaneous condition compared to the alternated condition. Conclusions: Binaural summation was 4?dB or higher in 88% of the ears and 6?dB or higher in 76% of ears. Stimulation of six out of the total 120 (0.5%) ears resulted in worse thresholds in the simultaneous condition compared with the alternating condition, suggesting binaural interference.     

Arytenoid adduction technique for correction of paralytic dysphonia

Development of phonosurgical techniques like Medialization Laryngoplasty (M.L) or Thyroplasty has opened new horizons in the management of paralytic dysphonia. The Arytenoid Adduction (A.A) technique as originally described by Professor Isshiki of Japan, added a new dimension for improvement of voice in cases of paralytic dysphonia particularly in large posterior complimentary to medialization laryngoplasty over a period of 2 years are described.     

Spasmodic dysphonia: abductor type. A clinical report of acoustic, aerodynamic and perceptual characteristics.

Two case studies of spasmodic dysphonia (abductor type) are presented with acoustic and aerodynamic documentation. The abductor type is characterized clinically as exhibiting intermittent moderate to severe breathiness accompanied by sudden drops in pitch. These phenomena are interpreted as intermittent abductor vocal fold spasms. Complete case histories including voice therapy and their results are presented.     

The evolution of the assessment and treatment of paralytic dysphonia

Vocal fold paralysis has been an omnipresent disorder throughout the annals of laryngologic history since the origin of the specialty in 1858. The attendant complexity of laryngoscopic presentation, physiologic dysfunction, and surgical rehabilitation have led to a rich heritage of scientific investigations that can be traced through the past 140 years. The following historical summary provides the reader with a working knowledge of past experiences that connect to current initiatives and portend future progress.     

Outcomes of structural fat grafting for paralytic and non-paralytic dysphonia

Aims of this prospective study were to evaluate the results of vocal fold structural fat grafting for glottic insufficiency and to compare the outcomes obtained in unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) and congenital or acquired soft tissue defects in vocal folds. Sixty-six consecutive patients with breathy dysphonia, in 43 cases (aged 16-79 years) related to UVFP and in 23 cases (aged 16-67 years) related to vocal fold iatrogenic scar or sulcus vocalis, underwent autologous structural fat grafting into vocal folds. Lipoaspirates were centrifuged at 1200 g for 3 min to separate and remove blood, cell debris and the oily layer. The refined fat was injected under direct microlaryngoscopy in a multilayered way. The main outcome measures were grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenicity and strain (GRBAS) perceptual evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT), self-assessed Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and voice acoustic analysis, considered pre-operatively and at 3 and 6 months after fat grafting. After surgery, MPT, VHI, G and B improved in both groups (p < 0.05). In particular, G and VHI functional subscales showed a significantly greater decrease in patients with UVFP (p < 0.05). The acoustic variables improved significantly only in the UVFP group (p < 0.005). From 3 to 6 months postoperatively, most variables showed a trend with further improvement. Vocal fold structural fat grafting was significantly effective in treating glottic insufficiency due to UVFP or soft tissue defects. Perceptual, acoustic and subjective assessments confirmed that patients with UVFP had better outcomes than those with soft tissue defects.     

Effects of botulinum toxin therapy in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia: acoustic, aerodynamic, and videoendoscopic findings.

Botulinum toxin has been previously reported to be successful in the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia. To objectively document results, 11 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia who received unilateral treatment of the thyroarytenoid muscle were studied. Acoustic analyses and airflow rates during sustained phonation and flexible videoendoscopy were performed prior to, 1 week and 1 month after injection. 1. Acoustic parameters demonstrated significant voice improvement, although abnormal characteristics remained. 2. Mean airflow rates were increased 1 week after injection with almost normal values 1 month later. 3. Videolaryngoscopy showed an effective reduction of intrinsic laryngeal muscle hyperfunction with less effect on extrinsic muscle activity. Interrelations between videolaryngoscopic rating scores, acoustic results and aerodynamic results are discussed.     

成人女性嗓音障碍的客观多参数分析

目的：探讨嗓音客观多参数分析与主观听感知评估的相关性，建立嗓音客观多参数评估模型，实现嗓音评估的客观化和数据化。方法：声音样本采自83例嗓音障碍患者和40例嗓音正常者，全部受试者均为女性。客观检测采用Dr．Speech Science for Windows嗓音评估软件，在长元音/α：/上测试下列参数：基频、基频微扰(jitter)、振幅微扰(shimmer)、基频标准差、基频震颤、振幅震颤、标准化噪声能量(NNE)、谐噪比(HNR)、信噪比和最大发声时间(MPT)。主观听感知评估参数采用日本言语音声学会声音嘶哑评估GRBAS系统中的总嘶哑度，4级评估标准。结果：应用逐步判别分析方法，建立了5个参数(MPT、jitter、NNE、HNR和shimmer)的嗓音客观评估模型。客观评估结果与主观评估结果的一致性达到79．8％。结论：嗓音的客观评估是多参数的；嗓音的客观多参数评估模型与主观听感知结果有较好的一致性。     

Evidence-based treatment of paralytic dysphonia: making sense of outcomes and efficacy data

The criteria used to determine the success or failure of a given treatment for vocal fold paralysis are fundamental components of routine clinical practice and treatment outcomes research for the surgeon and voice therapist. The purpose of this article is to offer a guide to the critical interpretation of available measures of out-come and efficacy for this patient population. Such data form the basis for the practice of evidence-based medicine and voice therapy,essential if the standard of care is to evolve to the benefit of the patient. A better understanding of the potentials and limitations of each measure is important for treatment planning and patient counseling and, ultimately, for the conception of future well-designed clinical research. The complex issues regarding outcomes measurement are addressed here within the context of current treatment literature on vocal fold paralysis. Particular emphasis is placed on realistic data gathering within clinical practice.     

Perceptual evaluation of dysphonia: correlation with acoustic parameters and reliability

The perceptual GRBAS scale for analysis of voice quality is quite important clinically in voices that cannot be effectively analyzed with a voicing parameter method like vocalizations with strong subharmonics and modulations and in chaotic or random voices. In the present study, two experiments were performed: Firstly, GRBAS/acoustical correlations were investigated in 107 pathological voices. Secondly, the GRBAS interrater and intrarater agreement. The severity of dysphonia was assesed better by breath related parameters and low fundamental frequencies. The presence of subharmonics in the power spectrum had not a significant relationship with the degree of roughness. A (asthenic) and S (strain) scales. The results of this study show that GRBAS test-retest reliability and intrerrater agreement is high.     

Diagnosis of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis: laryngeal electromyography, subjective rating scales, acoustic and aerodynamic measures

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether specific laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) patterns in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis/paresis (UVFP) are related to etiology of injury, time from onset of injury, patient perception of symptom severity, acoustic measures, and laryngeal aerodynamic measures. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective review of 75 patients. METHODS: Each patient received LEMG, acoustic and aerodynamic testing, and a subjective rating scale assessment (the Glottal Closure Index). Statistical analysis by groups were performed using both chi and single-factor analysis of variance testing. RESULTS: An iatrogenic etiology was associated with poor tone on LEMG (P = .05). Those individuals evaluated after 3 months after onset demonstrated more nascent units, a sign of reinnervation, compared with individuals evaluated before 3 months (P < .02). Individuals with fewer normal motor units on LEMG had significantly higher mean translaryngeal air flows (P = .044). Individuals with poor recruitment had significantly shorter maximum phonation times (P = .034) and higher mean flows (P = .044). Individuals with better laryngeal tone as noted on LEMG had significantly lower mean flows (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: Specific LEMG patterns are related to the etiology of the UVFP and time course since recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. LEMG appears to reflect vocal fold muscle tone as seen on laryngeal function studies. In combination, these studies provide a cohesive assessment of laryngeal function in patients with UVFP.     

New procedures for paralytic dysphonia: adduction arytenopexy, Goretex medialization laryngoplasty, and cricothyroid subluxation

Laryngoplastic phonosurgery has evolved to be a dominant treatment modality for paralytic dysphonia. The postoperative vocal outcome from the combined use of adduction arytenopexy, Goretex medialization laryngoplasty, and cricothyroid subluxation is such that most patients will have a normal phonation time and more than two octaves of dynamic range with minimal acoustic perturbation. With the addition of the adduction arytenopexy and cricothyroid subluxation procedures to the armamentarium of the phonosurgeon, all parameters for static reconstruction of the paralyzed vocal fold have been addressed.