Correlation among stroboscopic, perceptual, and acoustic analyses findings in adults

Abstract

Objectives: The great progress in understanding the vocal physiology and the scientific and technological development in the voice area allow us to transpose the therapeutic limit through the means for the precoce detection of vocal changes. Our objective was to evaluate subjects without vocal complaint and to correlate possible videostroboscopic, perceptual, and acoustic analyses finding. Methods: Twenty-one men without vocal complaints were studied. Their ages ranged from 20 to 50 with median of 33. They were not alcohol or smoke users. The subjects underwent the videostroboscopic, perceptual, and acoustic evaluations. Results: 57.15% of the subjects presented any alteration in one or more of the evaluated aspects. In the videostroboscopy a posterior triangular gap was observed in 4 subjects. Ten subjects presented a mild grade alteration in the perceptual analysis, in instability, hoarseness, and breathiness parameters. Three subjects presented respectively hipernasal, cul de sac, and pharyngolaryngeal resonance focus. The acoustic evaluation presented the following averages: f0, 125.69 Hz; jitter, 0.22%; shimmer, 3.06%; NNE, -12.29 dB; HNR, 20.75 dB; tremor frequency, 2.09 Hz; tremor amplitude, 1.16 Hz. Some subjects presented shimmer% values and tremor frequency larger than the average. Conclusion: Changes were detected in 57.15% of the evaluations of subjects without vocal complaints. Those changes could be variations of the normality or they could indicate a predisposition to future glottic and vocal alterations in the course of the time. There was any acoustic aspect change in all the evaluations that presented alteration.