• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.83-86
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate efficacy and complication of injection laryngoplasty using calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) for unilateral vocal fold paralysis in Asian. Materials and Methods : A prospective study was conducted on the adult patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis from May 2015 through January 2016. Injection laryngoplasty was performed by one laryngologist. All patients underwent prospective voice evaluation using the subjective and objective comprehensive battery of assessments, before the procedure and after the procedure at 3 months, and 6 months. Results : A total of 7 patients (5 males and 2 females) were included in this study. VHI-10 was significantly decreased after injection laryngoplasty, at postoperative 6 months (p=0.031), while VAS score and MDADI showed no difference. GRBAS scale gradually decreased in 3 months and 6 months follow-up without statistical significance. Acoustic analysis revealed that jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio continuously decreased from the baseline at 3 months and 6 months, although statistical significance was not attained. In the aerodynamic analysis, maximal phonation time was gradually increased at 3months and 6 months with significant difference (p=0.016, 0.031, respectively). There was no side effect associated with the procedure. Conclusion : CaHA can be safely used in Asian patients and the onset of maximal efficacy seems to be slow than other studies with Caucasian patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Functional aphonia refers to in which by presenting whispering voice and almost producing very high-pitched tensed voices are produced. Voice therapy is the most effective treatment, but there is a lack of consensus for application of voice therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the vocal characteristics of functional aphonia and the effect of voice therapy applied accordingly. Materials and Method From October 2019 to December 2020, 11 patients with functional aphonia were treated using voice therapy which was processing three stages such as vocal hygiene, trial therapy, and behavioral therapy. Of these, 7 patients who completed the voice evaluation before and after voice therapy was enrolled in this study. By retrospective chart review, clinical information such as sex, age, symptoms, duration, social and medical history, process of voice therapy, subjective and objective findings were analyzed. Voice parameters before and after voice therapy were compared. Results In GRBAS study, grade, rough, and asthenic, and in Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice, overall severity, roughness, pitch, and loudness were significantly improved after voice therapy. In Voice handicap index, all of the scores of total and sub-categories were significantly decreased. In objective voice analysis, jitter, cepstral peak prominence, and maximum phonation time were significantly improved. Conclusion The voice therapy was effective for the treatment of functional aphonia by restoring patient's vocalization and improving voice quality, pitch and loudness.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2021

This study examines the effectiveness of semi-occluded vocal tract exercise (SOVTE) conducted through telepractice for 10 female teachers who have experienced vocal discomfort while working in early childhood education facilities (childcare centers, kindergartens). The effects of SOVTE conducted through telepractice were evaluated based on the Korean voice handicap index (KVHI), the Korean version of the voice activity and participation profile (K-VAPP), vocal effort, and auditory perception evaluation by using the grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale. The results show that total, functional, and physical scores of KVHI significantly reduced after SOVTE. The total score in K-VAPP significantly reduced after SOVTE. Moreover, vocal effort significantly decreased after SOVTE. However, statistically significant differences were not noted in GRB scales before and after SOVTE. In conclusion, early childhood teachers experienced reduced vocal discomfort SOVTE conducted through telepractice. The study results indicate that voice therapy conducted through telepractice is an effective method for reducing vocal discomfort in early childhood teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2022

Background and Objectives Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), mucolytics, and steroids were commonly recommended after phonomicrosurgery to prevent worsening of vocal fold (VF) scar formation and subglottal swelling. However, there is no consensus about whether laryngeal reflux and thick discharge are associated with the voice outcomes following phonomicrosurgery in benign VF lesions. The purpose of this study is to examine voice outcomes of use of PPIs, mucolytics,and steroids after phonomicrosurgery. Materials and Method This randomized controlled study is performed with patients undergoing laryngomicroscopic surgery for VF polyp and cyst. Participants were randomly assigned to 1) no medication, 2) PPIs, 3) PPIs+mucolytics, and 4) PPIs+mucolytics+steroids for 2 months postoperatively. Grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale, stroboscopic examination, aerodynamic assessment, acoustic analysis, and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) were performed pre- and post-operatively at 2 months. Parameters were compared among four groups. Results Among 85 patients, a total of 50 patients were included. The VHI-10, perceptual and acoustic parameters improved in all groups after surgery. However, there was no significant difference in those parameters among all groups. Conclusion PPIs, mucolytics, and steroids did not significantly influence voice outcomes after phonomicrosurgery in patients with benign VF lesions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2016

Background and Objectives : The clinical reports for the treatment of vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis are limited, also there is no best one for the treatment of them. This study is to evaluate the effect of Injection laryngoplasty (IL) for the treatment of vocal fold scar and sulcus vocalis. Materials and Methods : from January 2013 to May 2015, the Nineteen patients who were diagnosed as vocal fold scar, sulcus and atrophy, and underwent IL, were engaged in this study. Clinical information and voice parameters were analyzed by retrospective chart review. Pre and post voice parameters were compared. Results : Subgroups of diagnosis were classified into sulcus vocalis for 12 patients, vocal fold scar for 5, and atrophy for 2. IL was performed under local anesthesia through cricothyroid membrane except one patient. Atesense$^{(R)}$, Radiessess$^{(R)}$, and Rofilan$^{(R)}$ were used as injected materials in 9, 9, and 1 patients respectively. Maximal phonation time (p=0.0124), dynamic range (p=0.0028), pitch range (p=0.0141), voice handicap index (p=0.028), glottal closure (p=0.0229), and mucosal wave (p=0.0132) had significant improvement for post-IL voice assessment than Pre-IL. While GRBAS, Mean flow rate, Jitter, Shimmer, Harmony to Noise ratio didn't have improvement. Conclusion : IL is a feasible option for the treatment of glottis incompetence with normally mobile vocal folds such as sulcus vocalis and vocal fold scar.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2016

Background and Objectives: Quality of voice may be deteriorated after thyroidectomy without any injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve. While there have been several studies showing the change of acoustic parameters after thyroidectomy, factors related to deteriorated voice quality have been rarely studies. In this study, we sought to analyze the factors associated to deteriorated voice quality after thyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: We made a retrospective review of 35 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Voice analysis including acoustic analysis, voice handicap index 10 (VHI-10), and GRBAS score was conducted before and 3 months after surgery. Patients were grouped according to the amount of increase in VHI-10 after surgery ; group A (${\Delta}VHI<7$) and group B (${\Delta}VHI{\geq}7$). Clinicopathologic factors associated to patients of group B were analyzed and changes of parameters from acoustic analysis in each group were evaluated. Results : Patients of group B were associated with age ${\geq}45$ years (p=0.025) and showed borderline association to total thyroidectomy (p=0.075) and tumor size ${\geq}1cm$ (p=0.086). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that those with age ${\geq}45$ years were independently associated to deteriorated quality of voice (p=0.014, HR=18.38). Patients of group B were also associated to significant deterioration of high pitch (p<0.001) and Grade score with borderline significance (p=0.054). Conclusion: Patients older than 45 years may have higher risk of deterioration of quality of voice after thyroidectomy based on increase of VHI-10 score (${\Delta}VHI{\geq}7$). Association with deterioration of high pitch should also be considered in these patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2017

Background and Objectives : In unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP), medialization thyroplasty (MT), arytenoid adduction (AA) and injection layrngoplasty (IL) are the most common procedures to correct phonatory problems. There is no consensus that which procedure is superior to the other for correcting the glottal insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to compare the phonatory parameters between MT, AA and AA with IL (AA+IL) in patients with unilateral VFP. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study enrolled patients from 2005 to 2016. Total 72 patients (49 male, 23 female, mean age 54.5 years) were classified into three groups ; MT (n=28), AA (n=12), and AA+IL (n=32). GRBAS scales, maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), and voice handicap index (VHI)-10 and VHI-30 were preoperatively and postoperatively collected and compared between the three groups. Results : Age, gender and cause of VFP were not significantly different between the three groups. In MT and AA groups, MPT, VHI, G (overall grade) and B (breathiness) were significantly improved. In AA+IL group, jitter, shimmer, NHR, MPT, VHI, G and B were significantly improved. In analysis of differences (pre-postoperative values), ${\Delta}$ jitter (p<0.001), ${\Delta}$ shimmer (p=0.031), and ${\Delta}$ NHR (p=0.002) were significantly different and AA+IL group showed the greatest improvement. Conclusion : Analysis of voice parameters showed that all the three procedures for patients with unilateral VFP are effective in the improvement of voice ; especially in MPT, VHI-10, G and B scales. Compared to the others, AA+IL provided the better acoustic values including jitter, shimmer and NHR.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.212-222
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the measured values of acoustic and auditory perceptual assessments between normal and functional dysphonia (FD) groups. Materials and Methods : 102 subjects with FD and 59 normal voice groups were participated in this study. Mid-vowel portion of the sustained vowel /a/ and two sentences of 'Sanchaek' were edited, concatenated, and analyzed by Praat script. And then auditory-perceptual (AP) rating was completed by three listeners. Results : The FD group showed higher acoustic voice quality index version 2.02 and version 3.01 (AVQIv2 and AVQIv3), slope, Hammarberg index (HAM), grade (G) and overall severity (OS), values than normal group. Additionally, smoothed cepstral peak prominence in Praat (PraatCPPS), tilt, low-to high spectral band energies (L/H ratio), long-term average spectrum (LTAS) in FD group were lower than normal voice group. And the correlation among measured values ranged from -0.250 to 0.960. In ROC curve analysis, cutoff values of AVQIv2, AVQIv3, PraatCPPS, slope, tilt, L/H ratio, HAM, and LTAS were 3.270, 2.013, 13.838, -22.286, -9.754, 369.043, 27.912, and 34.523, respectively, and the AUC of each analysis was over .890 in AVQIv2, AVQIv3, and PraatCPPS, over 0.731 in HAM, tilt, and slope, over 0.605 in LTAS and L/H ratio. Conclusions : In conclusion, AVQI and CPPS showed the highest predictive power for distinguishing between normal and FD groups. Acoustic analyses and AP rating as noninvasive examination can reinforce the screening capability of FD and help to establish efficient diagnosis and treatment process plan for FD.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.91-98
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• 2020

This study investigated the acoustic characteristics of sustained vowel /a/ and sentence utterance produced by patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) using cepstrum-based acoustic variables. 36 women diagnosed with MTD and the same number of women with normal voice participated in the study and the data were recorded and measured by ADSVTM. The results demonstrated that cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and CPP_F0 among all of the variables were statistically significantly lower than those of control group. When it comes to the GRBAS scale, overall severity (G) was most prominent, and roughness (R), breathiness (B), and strain (S) indices followed in order in the voice quality of MTD patients. As these characteristics increased, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed in CPP. We tried to classify MTD and control group using CPP and CPP_F0 variables. As a result of statistic modeling with a Random Forest machine learning algorithm, much higher classification accuracy (100% in training data and 83.3% in test data) was found in the sentence reading task, with CPP being proved to be playing a more crucial role in both vowel and sentence reading tasks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Therapies have been reported to treat the glottal gap previously. However, these voice therapies showed the limits because many techniques focused only on one among breathing, resonance and phonation. In addition patients often have difficulties visiting hospital frequently. 'Gliding and humming' is vocal training technique that readjusts total vocal patterns such as breathing, resonance and phonation. This technique can be easily applied during short term sessions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of voice therapy with 'gliding and humming' for patients with glottic gap during short-term treatment sessions. Materials and Method Twenty-three patients with glottal gap were selected. Of all patients, 14 patients had sulcus vocalis and 12 patients had muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Voice therapies were performed 1.9 sessions in average. GRBAS, jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio, semitone range, closed quotient_vowel and maximum phonation time were compared before and after the therapies. In addition, changes of glottal gap and MTD severity were evaluated. Results Statistically significant improvement was observed. MTD improvement was observed only among the patients with glottal gap improvement. Also sulcus vocalis group showed the statistically significant improvement. Conclusion 'Gliding and humming' was effective to the patients with glottic gap and sulcus vocalis. Also, among patients who have both glottic gap and MTD, the data suggests that voice therapy for glottic gap also makes improvement in MTD.