• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2001

Singing requires exquisite coordination between the respiratory and phonatory system to efficiently control glottal airflow. Respiratory function and vocal aerodynamics were investigated in six female professional sopranos and in six female subjects without vocal training. All sopranos had more than 15 years of formal classic vocal training. Pulmonary function test data on simple pulmonary function, flow volume curve, static lung volumes, maximum inspiratory pressure(MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure(MEP) were obtained from all subjects. Vocal aerodynamic studies of maximum phonation time(MPT), phonation quotient, and mean glottal flow rates (MFR) were also measured in all subjects. Simple pulmonary function in professional sopranos was generally the same as that of other female subjects without vocal training. However, MIP and MEP showing respiratory muscle forces were significantly elevated in professional sopranos, compared to those of other female subjects without vocal training. Maximum phonation times and phonation quotient in sopranos are longer than those of other female subjects even though there were no differences in simple pulmonary function. High-pitched tones were made with significantly higher mean glottal flow rates(GFR) in normal subjects than low-pitched tones, whereas no changes in GFR were found in sopranos. The result indicated that sopranos demonstrated significant improvements in aerodynamic measures of GFR, maximum phonation time, suggesting an increase in glottal efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 1997

Vocal nodule due to vocal hyperfunction is one of the representative chronic diseases of vocal folds, and it can be cured by surgical movement, and/or voice therapy. The present study is, focusing on the latter, to compare the acoustic and aerodynamic results of the pretreatment with those of posttreatment, and then to investigate the objective date on the efficiency of the voice therapy for the patients with vocal nodules. 11 females(age : 7-49) and 5 males(age : 8-40), total 16 patients wi vocal nodules treated by voice therapy were participated as subjects. Six measurements and comparisons of pretreatment and posttreatment of the results were performed : litter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio as acoustic analyses ; maximum phonation time, mean flow rate, and the subtraction of mean flow rate from maximum flow rate as aerodynamic analyses. As a result, 14 of 16 subjects showed improvement at more than 4 of 6 measurements, and in group data, every measurements of posttreatment was improved significantly than the pretreatment. On the whole, the improvement of aerodynamic aspects was more statistically significant than that of acoustic ones.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Dysphonia may be secondary to many different type of benign vocal cord lesions such as vocal polyp, vocal nodule, Reinke's edema, and intracordal cyst. Diagnosis and treatment of intracordal cysts are more difficult than other benign vocal cord lesions. But postoperative voice analysis of intracordal cyst have rarely been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze aerodynamic and acoustic results and videostroboscopic findings before and after laryngomicrosurgery. Materials and Methods : We reviewed the pre and post-operative voice analysis results and videostroboscopic findings of 15 surgically treated patients of intracordal cysts at Severance hospital from Jun. 1997 to Nov. 1999 retrospectively. They were diagnosed with videostroboscopic findings, surgical findings, and pathologic reports. Their pre and post-operative speech were analyzed with MDVP(Multi Dimension Voice Analysis Program) of CSL(Computerized Speech Lab) and Aerophone II. Their pre and post-operative mucosal wave of true vocal cord was analyzed with videostroboscopy. In order to compare this results with normal group, 10 of normal persons were evaluated with same methods. Results : After the operation, mucosal wave of true vocal cord was improved in all patients. Postoperative acoustic and aerodynamic results were improved in almost parameters, but they did not reach the normal value. Conclusions : Videostroboscopy was essential in diagnosing intracordal cysts. By comparing the acoustic and aerodynamic results and video-stroboscopic findings before and after the laryngomicrosurgery, postoperative vocal function was defined more accurately and objectively. Almost parameters may be useful in assessing the quantitative changes in vocal quality before and after the laryngomicrosurgery.