An Aerodynamic Study of Labial Stop Consonants After Laser Cordectomy of Types II-III

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to compare the aerodynamic parameters of intraoral pressure (IOP), oral airflow (OAF), and estimated transglottal pressure of 10 French patients treated by a cordectomy of types II-III with a group of 10 French healthy subjects. Prospective. The collection of the aerodynamic data was conducted with EVA2. Parameters were measured using logatomes of the type CV1·CV2·CVC3 where C represents [p,b] and V is one of the vowels [a,i,u] in the positions one and two (n=240). The maximum peaks of IOP of the plosives [p] and [b] and the maximum peaks of OAF at their releases were extracted. Finally, the transglottal pressure was estimated, necessary for the voicing of [b], to establish the difference in the IOP mean peak of [p] and [b] at the same intensity. Subsequently, the differences in IOP for both positions and each vocalic contexts, "IOP(p-b)" were calculated, and the reports of these differences for the IOP of [p], viz "IOP(p-b)/IOP(p)", were established for a normalization of the results. This study highlights an increase of the IOP and the OAF in voiceless contexts for both groups. The elevation of both parameters observed for the patients-confirmed by the calculation of the estimated transglottal pressure-does show some degree of laryngeal incompetence. The patients treated by cordectomy of types II-III maintain a relatively good voicing contrast. A certain difficulty in the execution of this articulatory feature is found.