Abstract
Previous research has shown that vocal fold hydration level is an important physiological variable affecting vocal fold vibration and vocal health. For instance, unbalanced laryngeal water transport has been associated with benign vocal fold lesions such as nodules and polyps, while hydration treatment is frequently used as a preventive or therapeutic strategy for the management of a variety of voice disorders. The theoretical basis for the role of hydration in voice production is that it may affect phonation threshold pressure or the ease of phonation, presumably by changing the viscous properties of vocal fold tissues. However, there is little empirical evidence showing how hydration might actually affect the biomechanical properties of vocal fold tissues. This study attempted to assess the effect of hydration on the viscoelastic shear properties of canine vocal fold mucosa. Osmotic changes in the hydration level of excised canine larynges were induced by incubation in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions. Viscoelastic shear properties of vocal fold mucosal tissues were measured with a rheometer. Significant changes in both issue elasticity and viscosity were observed with the induced changes in hydration. These findings supported the hypothesis that hydration affects voice production by altering tissue viscoelastic properties.
Published Version
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