Glottal Contact Quotient in Mediterranean Tongue Trill

Abstract

To determine the effect of a Mediterranean tongue trill (Zalghouta) on estimated glottal closed quotient (CQ). A total of 10 female subjects participated in this study. Vocal fold CQ was measured for both sustained vowel [a] and the tongue trill named Zlaghouta using electroglottography. Frequencies and means (±standard deviation) were used to describe categorical and continuous variables, respectively. The Wilcoxon signed nonparametric test was used to determine any significant changes in CQ means pretrill and during trill. There was a significant decrease in the mean CQ during the Mediterranean tongue trill (Zalghouta) versus the sustained vowel [a] (P value of 0.002) by 15.98. When stratified by training status there was a significant decrease for the trained group (P value of 0.031) and a nonsignificant decrease for the untrained group (P value of 0.125). Zalghouta induces a decrease in the vocal fold contact time. The potential benefits of the Mediterranean tongue trill in vocal therapy need consideration.