• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 1996

The vocal efficiency(VE) can be calculated as the ratio of acoustic power to aerodynamic power. It relates to the vocal intensity, air Sow rate and subglottic pressure. In this study, we treated 20 cases of vocal polyps and 10 cases of vocal nodules by way of laryngo-microsurgery or laser laryngo-microsurgery. The VE was measured preoperatively and postoperatively in all cases. The results showed that there was a significant improvement of VE postoperatively than that of preoperative measurement(p＜0.01) in vocal Polyp group. However, there was no significant difference(p＞0.05) in vocal nodule group. Through comparing the results, we obtained the conclusion : The laryngo-microsurgery is the reliable method of management for the vocal polyps, but f3r the vocal nodules, the laryngo-microsurgery should be selected after other more conservative approaches fail to produce the desired results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 1998

Background and Objectives : Singers, the vocal equivalents of Olympic athletes, may present with vocal dysfunction in the singing voice before adverse effects are noted in the speech mode. For the classically trained singers, any imbalance in the respiratory, laryngeal or resonatory subsystems may manifest first in technical compensations. Therefore it is necessary that baseline values be available in order to differentiate technique related dysfunction from abnormalities within the phonatory system. Materials and Methods : Vocal efficiency measures were collected from 55 classically trained singers and 20 untrained adults. All singers was divided into 3 groups : (1) Singers who have normal larynx with out voice symptoms. (2) Singers who have vocal nodule without voice symptoms. (3) Singers who have vocal nodule with voice complaints. Results and Conclusion : Results were compared with each other. Differences in each group wert found, suggesting the need for separate normative data to be used for the evaluation of the classically trained singers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2015

Background and Objectives : Aerodynamic analysis is an examination which provides information regarding various vocalization measures indicating laryngeal efficiency. Voice evaluation using such examination must be capable of distinguishing between normal to abnormal voice. It also observes variables on aerodynamic characteristics by gender in regards to patients of vocal disorders, especially of vocal cord paralysis and vocal polyp, and compares the conditions before and after surgery. This paper therefore, seeks to build a framework for establishing standard levels of aerodynamical characteristic on vocal disorders. Subjects and Methods : The study was intended for a total number of 20 patients with vocal polyp or unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Those with the vocal polyp underwent laryngomycroscopy surgery and the vocal cord paralysis, vocal fold injection using Restylane. Aerodynamic analysis fulfilled the Maximum sustained Phonation (MXPH) and Voicing Efficiency (VOEF) by using PAS Model 6600 (KayPENTAX, USA). Results : In MXPH, increase in PHOT were evident with vocal polyp after surgery. As for patients with vocal cord paralysis, MAXDB, MEADB, DHODB, PHOT all have increased and MEAP, PEF, MEAF decreased after surgery. In VOEF, patients with vocal cord paralysis who underwent surgery showed increase in MAXDB, MEADB, DHODB, FET100, ARES, but decreases in PEF, TARF. Conclusion : Overall, it can be concluded that patients with the vocal polyp and vocal cord paralysis seemed to get closer to the normal values after than before surgery in majority of measures. This confirms that the function of their vocal cord has improved nearly to normality through operations.

• 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.10 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1999

Vocal hyperfunction is considered to be the most significant characteristic in larynx disorders which is found among many patients presenting hoarseness Primarily as chief complaint. In Pusan National University Hospital, we executed the voice therapy to 28 patients being 17 female and 11 male patients who visited the Voice ＆ Speech Therapy Clinic, due to the voice disorder, and then compared and analysed the voice before and after its therapy using acoustic and aerodynamic test. The obtained results were as follows. In the analysis by the local findings, it was improved to 88% in the patients of vocal nodule, 75% in mutational falsetto, 75% in the functional dysphonia, 75% in the vocal cord palsy, 50% in the vocal polyp and 50% in dysphonia plica ventricularis. For the acoustic analysis, Fo, litter, Shimmer and NHR were measured. In the patients of mutational falsetto, Fo, Jitter and NHR were shown to be improved significantly and in the patients of vocal nodule, Shimmer was shown to be improved significantly. In the patients of vocal polyp, Fo was significantly improved. In the patients of vocal cord palsy in litter and NHH were significantly improved. In the patients of dysphonia plica ventricularis, Shimmer and NHR were significantly improved and the patients of functional dysphonia were more improved in Fo, litter and Shimmer. For the aerodynamic analysis, MPT was measured. In particular, it was shown to be improved significantly in the patients of vocal nodule, improved in the vocal polyp, vocal cord palsy, functional dysphonia patients.

• 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.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2013

The aerodynamic characteristics (subglottal pressure (Ps) and mean airflow rate (MFR)), fundamental frequency (Fo), intensity (I), vocal efficiency (VE), and closed quotient (CQ) were compared during a sustained vowel /o/ sound under three conditions: in a comfortable loudness and pitch level (condition 1), in a maximum loudness level with a fixed pitch (condition 2), and in a maximum loudness level without a fixed pitch (condition 3). Also, multiple regression analyses were done to measure the aerodynamic characteristics affect on the VE and the CQ in each condition. The results showed the Fo, Ps, MFR, VE, and CQ increased as I increased with and without fixed pitch. Most notably, VE in condition 3 was the highest of all the conditions, but CQ was not very high. By the results of multiple regression analysis, VE was significantly affected by I and Ps in all conditions; Fo was the other main key for affecting VE in high pitch. However, none of the aerodynamic characteristics significantly affected CQ. As I increases, Fo should be increased by increasing Ps and VE. Therefore, researchers should consider and specify an a priori to Fo, Ps, and I when measuring VE to examine the complex and delicate vocal mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

Vocal fold injection (VFI) is widely accepted as a first line treatment in treating unilateral vocal fold paralysis and other vocal fold diseases. Although VFI is advantageous for its minimal invasiveness and efficiency, the invisibility of the needle tip remains an essential handicap in precise localization. Real-time light-guided vocal fold injection (RL-VFI) is a novel technique that was developed under the concept of performing simultaneous injection with precise placement of the needle tip under light guidance. RL-VFI has confirmed its possibility of technical implementation and the feasibility in injecting the needle from various directions through ex vivo animal studies. Further in vivo animal study has approved the safety and feasibility of the procedure when various transcutaneous approaches were applied. Currently, RL-VFI device is authorized for clinical use by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea and is clinically applied to patients with safe and favorable outcome. Several clinical studies are currently under process to approve the safety and the efficiency of RL-VFI. RL-VFI is expected to improve the complication rate and the functional outcome of voice. Furthermore, it will support laryngologists in overcoming the steep learning curve by its intuitive guidance.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

The present study examined the change of aerodynamic features after laryngomicrosurgery in patients with vocal polyps. Aerodynamic evaluation was performed in thirty-nine patients (15 males and 24 females) one week before surgery and four weeks after surgery. Evaluation protocols of vital capacity, maximum sustained phonation(MXPH), and voicing efficiency(VOFT) were used to collect 29 phonatory aerodynamic measures, requiring voice with a comfortable pitch and loudness. Statistically significant changes were found for phonation time and airflow values in the MXPH protocol, while changes were also found for airflow values, subglottal pressure values and acoustic resistance values in the VOFT protocol. Although phonation time was increased in both male and female patients, gender-dependent changes were found in airflow measurements. Men's phonation time increased with no difference in airflow rate, but women's phonation time increased with decreased airflow rate and lower subglottal pressure. The changes of aerodynamic features may be affected by women's self-perceived change for vocal attitude, which was reducing sense of vocal effort after surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1998

Voice rehabilitation is very important concerning in laryngectomees. Esophageal speech is a common and widely used method of voice restoration. But, until now there is no reliable data which shows the aerodynamic characteristics of esophageal speech. In order to evaluate the vocal quality of normal laryngeal and esophageal speech, several aerodynamic parameters were measured in 13 adults with normal laryngeal voice and 2 excellent esophageal speakers using Aerophone II voice function analyzer. The examined parameters were maximal flow rate, mean airflow rate, subglottic pressure, vocal efficiency, glottic resistance, maximal phonation time and mean sound pressure level. In vocal efficiency, there is no difference between two groups, but in other parameters, marked differences were showed in esophageal speakers, especially mean resistance. Results indicates that esophageal speakers make the efficient voices with poor aerodynamic condition, comparing with normal laryngeal speakers.