• 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.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects postural changes on respiratory muscles and acoustic parameters of the children with spastic cerebral palsy. Nine children with spastic cerebral palsy who required assistance when walking were selected. The ages of the children ranged from 6 to 9 years old. The phonation of the sustained vowel /a/ and the voice qualities of each child such as fundamental frequency($F_0$; Hz), pitch variation (Jitter; %), amplitude variation (Shimmer; %) and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) were analyzed by Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP). The muscle activity of three major respiratory muscles: pectoralis major muscle, upper trapezius muscle and rectus abdorminalis muscle, were measured by examining the root mean square (RMS) of the surface EMG to investigate the impact of changes in the adjusted sitting posture of each subject. However, the RMS of pectoralis major muscle showed a significant differences (p<.05). Secondly, there were no significant differences in $F_0$, Jitter and Shimmer between pre and post posture change, but there was a significant difference in NHR (p<.05). The data were collected in each individual; once prior and once after the sitting posture change. The data were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed ranks-test using SPSS version 14.0 for Windows. The findings of this study were as follows; Firstly, the RMS of upper trapezius and rectus abdorminalis muscle were not significant different between pre and post sitting posture changes. From the result, it is concluded that changes in the adjusted sitting posture decreases the abnormal respiratory patterns in the children with spastic cerebral palsy which is characterized by the hyperactivity of the respiratory muscles in breathing. Also, there is increased on the voice qualities in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 2013

This research is aimed at finding the acoustic characteristics of different voice rehabilitation techniques, the electrolaryx (EL), standard esophageal (SE), and tracheoesophageal (TE), used on 17 patients with laryngectomees. The analysis of the voice qualities was achieved using MDVP. In order to compare the acoustic characteristics, patients were asked to produce the vowel /a/ sound. The acoustic analysis included fundamental frequency (f0), jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR). The main acoustic results showed no significant statistical differences between the average measurements of SE and TE speakers. It was found that the current study showed the same tendency found in previous studies. There was also a significant difference between SE and EL speakers. On the other hand, there were no significant statistical differences between the average measurements of TE and EL speakers on all acoustic measurements. This research will contribute to establishing a baseline related to speech characteristics in voice rehabilitation for patients with laryngectomees. In future, the present findings and issues should be considered in the context of gender. Specifically, the number of women who are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer continues to rise and their acoustic characteristics may indeed differ from those of men.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of the management program known as vocal function exercise (VFE) on voice quality. Typical VFE was modified and applied to patients with vocal nodules by controlling intensity of voice and relieving the vocal fold to solve hyperfunctional problems in VFE. Eight female subjects aged between 28 and 54 who had been diagnosed with vocal nodules took part in the study. The patients performed VFEs once a week for eight weeks. Vocal function exercises consist of voice hygiene, respiratory training, phonation training, and glide training. The subjects' voices were analyzed pre and post therapy on the aspects of acoustics, maximum phonation time (MPT), GRBAS, and voice handicap index (VHI). As a result, it was found that fundamental frequency ($F_o$) was significant increased, shimmer decreased remarkably and that noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) lowered obviously in the acoustic parameter. In addition, MPT was increased significantly. The scale of GRBAS indicated significant improvement in grade, roughness, and strained voice. VHI indicated significant improvement in an emotional part. In conclusion, VFE was effective in improving voice quality for patients with vocal nodules.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1998

Type Ⅰ thyuroplasty in conjunction with arytenoid adduction is one of the excellent techniques in the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. But perioperative objective evaluation of the patients is difficult. With the development of the videostroboscopy and image analysis program, we could quantify the Glottal Area Waveform(GAW) in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and investigated the relationship between the glottal area and aerodynamic and acoustic parameters. Eight female patients who were performed type Ⅰ thyroplasty in conjunction with arytenoid adduction and 5 females with normal vocal function were involved in this study. Preoperative and postoperative videostroboscopy and vocal function study wire performed. GAW was analysed quantitatively with image analysis program (Kay Stroboscope Image analysis, KSIP) Peak Glottal Area(PGA), Baseline Offset(BO), and Closing Phase(CP) were increased in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and they were reduced after the operation. Mean flow Rate (MFR) was well correlated with the PGA in normal control group and unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients. Noise to harmonic ratio(NHR) was correlated with PGA only in preoperative unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients. In conclusion quantitative measurement of the GAW is useful method in evaluation of unilateral vocal f31d paralysis patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2020

Background and Objectives OperaVOXTM (Oxford Wave Research Ltd.) is a portable voice analysis software package designed for use with iOS devices. As a relatively cheap, portable and easily accessible form of acoustic analysis, OperaVOXTM may be more clinically useful than laboratory-based software in many situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between OperaVOXTM and Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP; Computerized Speech Lab) to assess voice quality before and after laryngeal microsurgery in patient with vocal polyp. Materials and Method Twenty patients who had undergone laryngeal microsurgery for vocal polyp were enrolled in this study. Preoperative and postoperative voices were assessed by acoustic analysis using MDVP and OperaVOXTM. A five-seconds recording of vowel /a/ was used to measure fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR). Results Several acoustic parameters of MDVP and OperaVOXTM related to short-term variability showed significant improvement. While pre-operative value of F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR was 155.75 Hz (male: 125.37 Hz, female: 183.37 Hz), 2.20%, 6.28%, 0.16, post-operative values of these parameter was 164.34 Hz (male: 129.42 Hz, female: 199.26 Hz), 2.15%, 5.18%, 0.14 Hz in MDVP. While pre-operative value of F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR was 168.26 Hz (male: 135.16 Hz, female: 201.37 Hz), 2.27%, 6.95%, 0.26, post-operative values of these parameters was 162.72 Hz (male: 128.267 Hz, female: 197.18 Hz), 1.71%, 5.36%, 0.20 in OperaVOXTM. There was high intersoftware agreement for F0, jitter, shimmer with intraclass correlation coefficient. Conclusion Our results showed that the short-term variability of acoustic parameters in both MDVP and OperaVOXTM were useful for the objective assessment of voice quality in patients who received laryngeal microsurgery. OperaVOXTM is comparable to MDVP and has high intersoftware reliability with MDVP in measuring the F0, jitter, and shimmer

• Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.87-98
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• 2001

Vocal nodule is one of the representative chronic diseases of vocal folds, and it can be cured by surgical removal or voice therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the accent method, one of the popular effective voice therapy, in the patients with vocal nodule. Authors executed the accent method in 17 patients with vocal nodule who visited the Voice & Speech Therapy Clinic, Pusan National University Hospital analysed the voice before and after treatment using the local findings, acoustic analysis and aerodynamic analysis MPT. The voice was analysed with MDVP of CSL and MPT was checked using stop watch. The parameters included Fo, Jitter, Shimmer and noise to harmonic ratio(NHR) as acoustic analysis. The results were obtained as follows. In the evaluation by the local findings, it was improved to 77% in the patients of vocal nodule. Jitter and Shimmer were shown to be improved significantly. In particular, it was shown to be improved significantly in patients with vocal nodule. As the result of this study, the improvement of aerodynamic aspect was more statistically significant than that of acoustic parameters. When I generalized the above mentioned results, we suggest that it is a useful voice therapy which can be helpful to the improvement of voice, applying the accent method to the vocal nodule patients, and there are currently many methods to be used in the voice therapy, but it is thought which the accent method is the good treatment as the alternatives of keeping the continuous medical treatment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.17-22
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• 2017

Background and Objectives: Voice change after thyroidectomy may develop without injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Psychogenic or emotional factors related to voice change after thyroidectomy has been rarely studied. In this study, we sought to analyze the impact of anxiety on early state of post-thyroidectomy voice change. Materials and Methods: We made a retrospective chart review of 36 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma and voice exam before surgery, 2 weeks after and 1 month after surgery. All patients included in the study answered a questionnaire for State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ; STAI-KYZ (form Korean YZ). Clinico-pathologic factors and parameters of voice analysis were reviewed to analyze correlation to the anxiety index. Results: No differences were identified between clinicopathologic factors and preoperative parameters of voice analysis between patients with higher and lower level of anxiety. Noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) was higher in those patients with higher level of anxiety, 2 weeks after surgery (p=0.043). However, none of the parameters showed any difference 1 month later. Conclusion: With limited number of patients and short period of follow up, significant impact of preoperative anxiety on postoperative voice change after thyroidectomy could not be identified in this preliminary study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2019

Background and Objectives Voice evaluation is classified into subjective tests such as auditory perception and self-measurement, and objective tests such as acoustic and aerodynamic analysis. When evaluating dysphonia, subjective and objective test results do not always match. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between subjective and objective evaluation in patients with dysphonia and to identify meaningful parameters by disease. Materials and Method The total of 322 patients who visited voice clinic from May 2017 to May 2018 were included in this study. Laryngeal lesions were identified using stroboscopy. Pearson correlation test was performed to analyse correlation between subjective tests including GRBAS scale and voice handicap index, and objective tests including jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), cepstral peak prominence (CPP), maximal phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate, and subglottic pressure. Results In vocal nodule and sulcus vocalis, among GRBAS system, grade and breathiness showed good correlation with CPP, and roughness showed good correlation with jitter or shimmer. In unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP), grade and breathiness showed a very good correlation with CPP, and also good correlation with jitter, shimmer, NHR, and MPT. Also asthenia showed good correlation with CPP and MPT. Vocal polyp has a limited association with other diseases. Conclusion In patients with dysphonia, grade and breathiness showed good correlation with CPP, jitter, and shimmer, and reflect the state of voice change well especially in UVCP, CPP, and MPT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate patients' subjective and objective outcomes after laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal fold (VF) lesions, and to identify usefulness of surgical treatment. Materials and Methods : The authors reviewed the 102 patients medical records, retrospectively who received laryngeal microsurgery for benign VF lesions from January 2013 to August 2017. Subjective voice were measured using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Objective voice were recorded with Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) just before surgery, and after at least 3 months of surgery. Results : Benign VF lesions were categorized as VF nodule (n=34, 33%), VF Polyp (n=47, 26%), Intracordal cyst (n=15, 15%), Reinke's edema (n=6, 6%), and VF Papilloma (n=2, 2%). Post-operative voice assessment at VHI scores showed statistically significant reductions in all of functional, physical and emotional parts (p<0.001). MDVP were showed significant improvement of Jitter (P=0.001), Shimmer (p<0.001) and Noise to Harmonic Ratio (NHR) (p=0.001). Conclusion : Laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal fold lesions is effective treatment with statistically significant improvement at subjective and objective vocal quality assessment.