Vocal fold mucus aggregation in vocally normal speakers

Abstract

Vocal fold mucus aggregation is common in persons with voice disorders. The normality of vocal fold mucus aggregation in vocally normal speakers is not known. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily ascertain the presence, type, thickness, location, and pooling of mucus aggregation in vocally normal speakers. An additional aim was to evaluate whether the features of mucus aggregation are more easily identified using stroboscopy or high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV). These aims were accomplished by visually rating a systematically collected database of stroboscopy and HSV recordings from 52 normophonic speakers. Results revealed 97% of normophonic speakers presented with visible mucus aggregation. Statistically significant differences were found for judgments of HSV compared to stroboscopy on the parameters of type 1 mucus, not apparent and mild thickness, not apparent pooling, and all three locations. Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study: 1) normophonic speakers commonly have mucus aggregation and 2) mucus aggregation is identified more often through stroboscopy than HSV.