• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2001

Background and Objectives : A voice therapy can be used the basic method for the voice improvement of patients with the voice disorders. However, according to each voice disorders, various results of treatments have been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of the patients who did not improved after the voice therapy and to explore factors that could affect the results of the voice therapy. Material and Method : There are patients (n=49) diagnosed as the vocal nodule and patients (n=13) diagnosed as the vocal polyp. They received the voice therapy more than 6 times from September, 2000 to August, 2001. Clinical features, stroboscopic findings, esophagographic findings and PNS x-ray findings were compared between the improved and the nonimproved groups. Results : Before the voice therapy, PNS x-ray found two of all patients had the paranasal sinusitis. 14 of the vocal nodule patients (28.6%) and 8 of the vocal polyp (61.5%) had GERD in the esophagogram. However, the recovery rate after the voice therapy had no significant difference in both the vocal nodule and vocal polyp with GERD. In patients with the vocal nodule, 47 of 49 (95.9%) improved after the voice therapy. 6 of them were found the clearly decreased lesion in the stroboscopy. But, in patients with the vocal polyp, 7 of 13 (53.8%) improved after the voice therapy and did not have improvement through the stroboscopy. Conclusion : If the treatment of GERD is given with the voice therapy after the evaluation of GERD, it is helpful to increase the effects of the voice therapy. And, if patients were improved partially or unimproved after voice therapy, it was important to evaluate all factors-motivation, compliance and cooperation-related with patients will. Through this, some factors might be minimized except diseases differences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2016

Variable systemic diseases affect larynx and vocal fold and result in voice change. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make increase of intra-abdomimal pressure followed by reflux of gastric acid, which stimulate vagal-bronchopulomary reflex aggravating cough and respiratory disturbance. Fungal laryngitis in the general population is extremely rare, but can occur in immunocompromised AIDS patients. Although, initially, empirical antifungal therapy for candidiasis is often given without biopsy, diagnostic direct laryngoscopy and biopsy is imperative if a substantial clinical response is not rapidly achieved. In the highly active anti-retroviral therapy era, HIV-positive patients are living longer and are at higher risk for developing non-AIDS-defining malignancies. The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) which is related with human papilloma virus infection has increased. The survival is significantly lower among the AIDS-HNC patients with CD4 counts ${\leq}200cells/{\mu}L$. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cause voice disturbance by developing cricoarytenoid joints fixation or nodule on vocal fold. Post-menopausal voice disorder (PMVD) is caused by decreased secretion of estrogen-progesterone resulting in decrease of fundamental frequency (F0). Hormonal replacement therapy is helpful to reduce F0 decrease. RA and PMVD result in slight voice change, but it could crucial in professional voice user.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.12-14
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• 2019

Functional dysphonia (FD) is a disease entity which includes various voice disorders in the absence of structural or neurologic laryngeal pathology. Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), psychogenic dysphonia are representative FD with completely different pathogenesis. Therefore there is no standard treatment modality for FD, the first step of treatment of FD is differentiating patient's voice symptoms from other organic voice disorders and other functional voice problems. MTD is a functional voice disorder caused by hyperfunction of intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal musculature. Symptoms include increased vocal effort, roughness, fatigue and odynophonia. First line for MTD is indirect or direct voice therapy. Unfortunately, many patients with MTD improve with voice therapy alone. For these patients, various modalities tried; lidocaine application, surgical excision of the false vocal folds, and botulinum toxin injection, etc. Botulinum toxin injections are widely used in the field of otolaryngology, especially for spasmodic dysphonia. However, its use in FD or MTD has only been described in few case reports. The aim of this lecture is to evaluate the feasibility of botulinum toxin injection for FD, especially MTD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2022

Background and Objectives The Voice Perceived Present Control scale (VPPC) has been developed to provide better insight into patients' perceived control over their thoughts or behaviors related to voice disorders. The objective of the present study was to validate the Korean VPPC (K-VPPC) by evaluating its internal consistency and reliability. Materials and Method All items of the English VPPC were translated into Korean. Content validity was analyzed through three Delphi survey rounds by an expert panel (n=44) with active clinical and research experience in treating dysphonic patients. Twenty-three patients with a heterogeneous diagnosis of dysphonia and twenty-three gender-matched vocally normal controls (total n=46) were asked to complete the K-VPPC and the Korean Voice Handicap Index-10 (KVHI-10). Psychometric properties including internal consistency and reliability were evaluated to examine the appropriateness of cross-cultural use of K-VPPC. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficient of K-VPPC was 0.89 for dysphonic patients, indicating good internal consistency in clinical samples. Furthermore, patients with dysphonia scored significantly lower on the total score of K-VPPC and higher on voice handicap than the vocally normal controls. Spearman's correlation coefficients indicated an inverse and moderate association between the K-VPPC and all domains of KVHI-10 (Spearman's r=-0.44- -0.68). Conclusion The findings of the current study indicated that the K-VPPC is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of perceived control in Korean patients with dysphonia. Therefore, the K-VPPC could be a useful and complementary tool for the comprehensive evaluation of dysphonia, thereby improving care in Korean patients with voice disorders.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.60 no.9
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• pp.454-462
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• 2017

Background and Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the effects of penetration/aspiration (P/A) on voice acoustic parameters. Subjects and Method Twenty-seven patients were analyzed with the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and then divided into two groups based on the modified Penetration and Aspiration Scale results. Ten patients (5 males and 5 females) were included in the Non-P/A group, and 17 patients (12 males and 5 females) in the P/A group. Stroke was the major cause of swallowing disorders. Three sustained /a/ vowels recorded in pre- and post-VFSS were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare acoustic values before and after VFSS, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve with combination of significant parameters was also conducted. Results Among acoustic parameters, the length of analyzed sample (p=0.010), number of segments computed (p=0.018), total number detected pitch periods (p=0.017), and second formant (p=0.013) in pre- and post-VFSS were significantly different between Non-P/A and P/A groups. In the P/A group after VFSS, the means of these significant parameters decreased. According to ROC combined with four significant parameters, the probability of predicting P/A condition was 84% (p=0.005), the sensitivity was 80%, and the specificity was 80%. Conclusion Voice acoustic analysis can reflect voice changes by penetration/aspiration and the combination of significant parameters can also detect swallowing disorders. Therefore, voice analysis can be a reliable screening tool for patients with swallowing disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.81-90
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• 2023

Auditory perceptual assessment and acoustic analysis are commonly used in clinical practice for voice evaluation. This study aims to explore the effects of speech task context on auditory perceptual assessment and acoustic measures in patients with voice disorders. Sustained vowel phonations (/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, /ɯ/, /ʌ/) and connected speech (a standardized paragraph 'kaeul' and nine sub-sentences) were obtained from a total of 22 patients with voice disorders. GRBAS ('G', 'R', 'B', 'A', 'S') and CAPE-V ('OS', 'R', 'B', 'S', 'P', 'L') auditory-perceptual assessment were evaluated by two certified speech language pathologists specializing in voice disorders using blind and random voice samples. Additionally, spectral and cepstral measures were analyzed using the analysis of dysphonia in speech and voice model (ADSV).When assessing voice quality with the GRBAS scale, it was not significantly affected by the vowel type except for 'B', while the 'OS', 'R' and 'B' in CAPE-V were affected by the vowel type (p<.05). In addition, measurements of CPP and L/H ratio were influenced by vowel types and sentence positions. CPP values in the standard paragraph showed significant negative correlations with all vowels, with the highest correlation observed for /e/ vowel (r=-.739). The CPP of the second sentence had the strongest correlation with all vowels. Depending on the speech stimulus, CAPE-V may have a greater impact on auditory-perceptual assessment than GRBAS, vowel types and sentence position with consonants influenced the 'B' scale, CPP, and L/H ratio. When using vowels in the voice assessment of patients with voice disorders, it would be beneficial to use not only /a/, but also the vowel /i/, which is acoustically highly correlated with 'breathy'. In addition, the /e/ vowel was highly correlated acoustically with the standardized passage and sub-sentences. Furthermore, given that most dysphonic signals are aperiodic, 2nd sentence of the 'kaeul' passage, which is the most acoustically correlated with all vowels, can be used with CPP. These results provide clinical evidence of the impact of speech tasks on auditory perceptual and acoustic measures, which may help to provide guidelines for voice evaluation in patients with voice disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2010

Speech language pathologists depend on their voice for livelihood and are high risk group of voice disorders. But there are few studies on their prevalence of voice symptoms and voice handicap index. This study aimed to evaluate prevalence of voice symptoms and Korean voice handicap index with 86 speech language pathologists and 90 individuals employed in other occupations. We analyzed self-reported voice symptoms and voice handicap index using a questionnaire for this study. The results showed that the prevalence of voice symptoms of speech language pathologists is 60.5% and voice handicap index scores of speech language pathologists group are significantly higher than those of control group in physical and total score. And we found that alcohol history was a risk factor for voice symptoms. These findings indicate that special vocal hygiene program for speech language pathologists and follow up studies for comparisons of prevalence of voice symptoms and voice handicap index with other professional voice users are necessary.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.3
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• pp.5-17
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• 1998

Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin derived from Clostridia Botulinum, has been injected into the target muscle(s) for the treatment of several kinds of voice and speech disorders at the Voice Clinic, Yonsei Institute of Logopedics and Phoniatrics since December 1995. Criteria for the diagnosis and method of injection for spasmodic dysphonia, mutational dysphonia, muscle tension dysphonia, dysphonia after total laryngectomy, and stuttering were summarized. Among 144 patients with adductor type spasmodic dysphonia, who were injected one time to maximum 8 times during the 27 months, 90% were recognized as having better than slight improvement. Even though the injected cases were small, not only the abductor type spasmodic dysphonia, but also the intractable mutational dysphonia or muscle tension dysphonia resistant to voice therapy revealed that botulinum toxin injection would be another options for treatment. Patients who cannot phonate after total laryngectomy and some forms of adulthood stutterers can also be candidates for the injection of botulinum toxin.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2012

Recent research has identified that self-reported voice problems are a risk indicator for voice disorders. However, previous studies concerning the general population did not take into account the influence of gender on self-reported voice problems. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the gender differences in risk factors of self-reported voice problems in the Korean adult population using national survey data. This study utilized data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2008. Subjects inclued 3,622 people (1,508 male and 2,114 female) aged 19 years and older living in the community. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of self-reported voice problems was 5.9% in males, and 8.1% in females Females had higher incidents of self-reported voice problems than males. Adjusting for covariates, in males, age (OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.07-5.70), pain and discomfort during the last two weeks (OR=3.64, 95% CI: 2.20-6.01) were independently associated with self-reported voice problems (p<0.05). In women, age (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.18-3.26), education (OR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.06-4.12), smoking (OR=2.70, 95% CI: 1.48-4.93), thyroid disorders (OR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.47-4.53), pain and discomfort during the last two weeks (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.21-2.54) were independently associated with self-reported voice problem (p<0.05). Self-reported voice problems related risk factors differed according to gender. These findings suggest that there needs to be different program strategies that reflect gender differences in self-reported voice problems.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.201-219
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• 2003

Background: The perceptual assessment is generally performed by the voice specialist. The objective evaluation is performed in a voice laboratory. Research in voice laboratories has generated a variety of different objective tests and parameters. The perceptual evaluation is one of the most controversial topics in voice research. Review of literature reveals a wide variety of rating scales and reliability data fluctuating from study to study. Unfortunately, there is no widely accepted valid method for classifying voice disorders and assessing outcome after voice treatment. Objectives: The goals of this research were to identify important objective acoustic parameters of vocal quality, and to establish an objective and quantitative correlate of the perceived vocal quality. Materials and Methods : We evaluated the voice analyzed data from 122 dysphonic patients and 20 normal volunteers. A computerized speech lab. 4300B(CSL) was used to carry out the analysis of each voice sample. Results: Three dysphonia severity indices(DSI) were created using discriminant analysis. DSI is based on the weighted combination of the following selected set of acoustic parameters: absolute jitter(Jita in us), smoothed pitch period perturbation (sPPQ in %), amplitude perturbation quotient(APQ in %), soft phonation index(SPI), average fundamental frequency(Fo in Hz), lowest fundamental frequency(Flo in Hz), and smoothed amplitude perturbation quotient(sAPQ in %). The DSI, being the discriminating rule calculated by the logistic regression, consists of three equation based on statistically significant acoustic parameters. Three DSI were created to reflects best the degree of hoarseness as expressed by G from the GRBAS scale. The more positive this DSI is for a patient, the worse the vocal quality. The more it is negative, the better it is. The effect of sex is included implicitly in the DSI-1 and DSI-2, so that a separate DSI-1 and DSI-2 for males and females need not be used. The DSI is objective because no perceptual input is required for its calculation. Conculsion : This research demonstrates that the voice function values calculated from three different multivariate objective dysphonia severity indices are significantly associated with subjective voice assessments. These multivariate objective dysphonia severity indices may be appropriate for use in clinical trials and outcomes research on treatment effectiveness for voice disorders.