Vocal Voice Research Articles

Impact of voice disorders and microlaryngeal surgery on psychological profiles of Arabic-speaking professional and nonprofessional voice users

IntroductionVoice disorders that impair normal social communication may cause subsequent emotional distress and are significantly associated with greater risk of anxiety and depression. The occurrence of vocal symptoms and voice disorders in professions where voice is an essential tool may cause stress and anxiety to the professionals suffering from them. Voice disorders in professionals have a major psychoemotional and social impact because they can threaten, shorten, or even end teachers’ and singers’ careers.Aim of the workPsychological impact of various voice disorders of professional and nonprofessional voice users has not yet been adequately studied according to the authors’ knowledge in the Egyptian population. It is therefore of great importance to shed light on the psychological impact of voice disorders on patients in an attempt to improve the quality of life of those patients.Patients and methodsDuring the period of 6 months from June 2014 to December 2014, 40 patients were included prospectively in this work.Results and conclusionProfessional voice users are more susceptible to psychological diseases than nonprofessional voice users. The degree of improvement postoperatively in professional voice users was statistically significant in all assessments of this study when compared with the nonprofessional voice users except in self-confidence and worth (Rosenberg self-esteem test). The best degree of improvement postoperatively was detected in the professional voice physically according to Jacobson scoring guidelines. There was a moderate relation between dysphonia and anxiety and depression according to the Voice Handicap Index and Kessler psychological distress scale results in this study.

The EU-China relationship in a new era of global climate governance

Global climate governance still faces serious challenges despite the epochal Paris Agreement of 2015. Whether and how the world will reach the targeted 1.5-degree limit remains difficult to foresee, although undoubtedly one of the necessary conditions is greater cooperation among the major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting nations. In this light, the decision by the USA, the second largest GHG emitter in the world, to withdraw from the Paris Agreement has significant global ramifications. Another source of uncertainty is the European Union’s climate policy, which has long been a role model for the world; it will likely have to undergo major changes as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU, which is projected to take place in 2019. Against this backdrop of profound geopolitical changes, this article argues that strengthened cooperation between the EU and China—the world’s largest GHG emitter, but also its largest investor in renewable energy and an increasingly vocal voice for climate action—is indispensable for meaningful climate change mitigation and adaptation in the decades ahead, even if the end results still fall short of the ambitions outlined in the Paris Agreement. Diverging economic and political interests still exist, but there is also much common interest and ample room for collaboration. We review the progress and challenges in EU-China cooperation on climate change and put forward practical suggestions for plausible future directions.

Some Stylistic Features of Typical Choral Arragenments of Ramiz Mustafayev («The Handkerchief» (Yaylıq) and «Hey, Beauty Girl» (Ey Gözəl))

This article is dedicated to the choral works of the famous Azerbaijani composer R. Mustafayev. The choral arrangements based on folk songs occupy a special place in the author’s heritage, encompassing the wide and diverse genres of the choir. The main purpose of the article is to reveal the characteristic features of the choral arrangements of the composer. The author of the article considers the author’s choral treatments based on folk songs, theoretically analyzes choral treatments based on the songs “The Handkerchief” and “Hey, Beauty Girl”. The article uses theoretical methods of analysis, discusses the harmony-intonation, rhythmic, harmonic, textural features of choral parties.Various stylistic features of choral treatments can be evaluated as a scientific innovation of the article. Firstly, in R. Mustafayev's choral arrangements, the possibilities of the vocal voice are consistent with the main stylistic features of the folk songs performance. The composer who owns the secrets of folk music, along with identifying the vocal capabilities of the collective, pays special attention to the disclosure of the image-emotional content in these songs. It should be noted the role of piano accompaniment in choral treatments. This instrument is not accompanying, as the piano's timbre features are used with a great skill.

Impact of speech therapy on the improvement of voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis

Aim of study: Evaluation of the speech therapy on voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal fold palsy. Material and methods: The study group included 11 patients, 8 women and 3 men, in age between 16 to 72 years, with unilateral vocal fold palsy, diagnosed in ENT Department of Warsaw Medical University between 2017-2018. Each person completed questionnaires: the voice disability self-assessment scale (VHI), the voice-based quality of life (VRQoL) scale, the vocal tract discomfort scale (VTD). All questionnaires were completed twice, before and after the voice therapy. In addition, the acoustic analysis of the voice, the assessment of the maximum phonation time and the breathing tract were performed twice in each patient. Each of the patients had a voice rehabilitation consisting of a series of 10 meetings. Results: Statistical analysis of the results of maximum phonation time, the self-assessment of voice disability, the quality of life depending on the voice, discomfort of the vocal tract voice acoustic analysis showed statistically significant differences in the results before and after rehabilitation (p <0.005). In addition, the improvement of the respiratory tract was observed in the majority of patients. Conclusions: Speech therapy significantly affects the voice quality of patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve palsy.

REFRACTORY NASAL POLYPOSIS TREATED WITH OMALIZUMAB IN A CHILD

Introduction Current treatment of inflammatory nasal polyposis consists of nasal/oral glucocorticoid therapy and surgical management if unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. The etiology is often multifactorial and requires combination management with both pharmacotherapy and surgery. We present a case of refractory nasal polyposis in a child treated with omalizumab, preventing the need for repeat surgical intervention. Case Description A 12-year old male with history of severe asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic fungal sinusitis requiring functional endoscopic sinus surgery, developed worsening nasal polyposis despite maximal medical therapy. Physical and endoscopic exam revealed left sided nasal polyps, bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy, vocal cord nodules and hoarse voice. FeNO was uptrending, ranging from 98-175 ppb over the past year. Management included allergen immunotherapy, oral leukotriene-receptor antagonist, high-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist, oral antihistamine, intranasal antihistamines, high-dose intranasal steroid rinses, and oral steroids. His asthma was well controlled. Repeat surgical intervention was anticipated. Given his rising FeNO levels despite oral steroids, omalizumab was initiated in an attempt to decrease his nasal inflammatory process. Significant symptomatic improvement was noted after two omalizumab injections and his FeNO decreased to 65 ppb, the lowest value in the previous 3 years. Six months later, his FeNO has declined further to 29 ppb. Endoscopic exam showed polyp regression. This has prevented need for nasal surgery with continued use. Discussion Off-label use of omalizumab for atopic nasal polyposis should be considered in patients nonresponsive to traditional pharmacotherapies.

Study on the Application of Electronic Equipment in Voice Disease Prevention

Electronic auxiliary equipment in many fields have been used in the prevention of disease, the vocal voice is more and more widely used, in the daily vocal training and voice disorders are mostly because the pronunciation method caused by improper, therefore, prevention and treatment of voice diseases is the scientific sound, let the human body the vocal organs reasonable movement in the vocal motor; followed by active prevention, effective treatment and daily life care. “Sound” is just like his life for the singer. How to protect it, keep it, and make it shine forever is the dream of every singer. In this paper, the application of electronic equipment, the use of voice disease prevention, through the scientific method of voice, physical health, diet and other aspects of the use of electronic auxiliary equipment, discusses the protection of artistic voice, singing can find the correct way of voice health.

Голос розмовний і голос вокальний. Відмінності в методиках постановки

Thearticle deals with the problematic aspects and specifi es certain differences in the methods of setting up the spoken and vocal voice during the preparation of future actors of drama theater and cinema.

On a sound analysis of Korean Trot singer Nam in-su’s voice

The word “‘trot” means “walk quickly” and the fox-trot, which refers to the performance rhythm of social dance and it is now being used as a word relating to musical genre and performance. The late singer Nam In-su was Korean who performed in the early stage of Korean trots, and he had sung about 1,000 songs for about 20 years since his debut in 1938. His representative songs are “Sorrowful Serenade” (1938), “Vanish Away, the 38th Parallel (the Cease-fire Line of the Korean War)” (1949) and “Parting at Busan Station” (1953). His songs consoled Korean people against the sorrow of a lost and colonized home country and healed the pain generated from the division between South and North Korea and the loss due to the Korean war. This paper analyzes the acoustic components of his vocal voice that induce the softness and liveliness. His voice crosses over three octaves, and even when he sings quickly, his high-pitched sound spreads wide. The sound connection between measures is natural and smooth. In addition, deep vibrations appear at all frequency bandwidths, and pronunciations of lyrics are accurate, so his voice sounds very lively. This study will be helpful in understanding the value of popular singers’ vocal voice supported with acoustic analysis.

Impacto do sistema de campo livre dinâmico na voz do professor: estudo de caso

RESUMO Este estudo teve como tema avaliar o efeito do sistema de campo livre dinâmico, em um período do dia, nos sintomas vocais e na qualidade vocal de uma professora em sala de aula. Relato de caso clínico de uma professora de 44 anos, que atuava na função há 23 anos, e lecionava na mesma sala no período matutino e vespertino. A professora utilizou um sistema de amplificação em campo livre dinâmico durante um dos períodos do dia por aproximadamente três meses. Foi realizada avaliação diária da ocorrência dos sintomas no trato vocal, e da intensidade deles antes e após a aula; análise perceptivo-auditiva e acústica da voz antes e após o período de observação, e aplicação de um questionário de autopercepção sobre o uso do sistema de campo livre dinâmico, ao final do período de observação. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e por meio do teste de Wilcoxon (p=0,05). Observou-se diminuição da intensidade do sintoma "secura" ao final da aula, e menor ocorrência de sintomas vocais com a utilização do sistema de campo livre dinâmico, além de melhora em parâmetros perceptivo-auditivos e acústicos da voz após o período de observação, e do relato de pontos positivos pela professora quanto ao uso de sistema de campo livre dinâmico. No caso estudado, o uso do sistema de campo livre dinâmico, em um dos períodos do dia, foi efetivo na diminuição dos sintomas e na melhora na qualidade vocal perceptivo-auditiva e acústica.

Acoustic analysis on vocal voice of Lee Nan-Young, a legendary singer of Korea

Lee Nan-Young, a legendary female popular singer of Korea, made her debut in 1934 and enjoyed a tremendous popularity among Korean people in the 1930-40s. She was a special comfort to Korean people who were suffering from colonial exploitations by the Japanese government during that time. To celebrate her 100th birthday, we analyzed her vocal recordings in order to find its unique characteristics that set her apart. Findings can be summarized as follows: first, her voice has harmonics found around 4500 Hz and even higher, which is three times higher than average; second, she changes tones from 250 Hz to 1500 Hz (2.5 octaves), producing an attractive plaintive voice; third, she gives many short cut-offs in low tones but produces rich resonant voice in high tones, practicing a variety of singing methods; fourth, she has a command of producing all-frequency-ranged voice including low, middle, and high frequency and makes rich vibrations resulting in deep and touching voice; last, her voice naturally and smoothly links with a variety of musical instruments accompanying her songs. Based on these findings, we conclude that she deserves to be recognized as one of the best popular singers who have ever performed.

Microscopic Surgery with Coblation for the Treatment of Benign Laryngeal Lesions: A Case Report

Background: Coblation based bipolar plasma devices are designed to operate at a relatively low temperature to gently dissolve and/or shrink target tissue with minimal thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Coblation technology provides ablation, resection, coagulation of soft tissue and hemostasis of blood vessels in one convenient surgical device. Coblation technology can be used in the larynx and trachea for removing or debulking sessile polyps, lesions or tumors. Minimally invasive coblation technology can offer less invasive treatment with quicker recovery and shorter hospitalization. Aim: This case study aims to explore the advantages of coblation combined with microscopy to treat benign laryngeal lesions. Case report: We report the case of laryngeal papilloma treated with minimally invasive coblation resection. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy was done pre-operatively and that showed papillomatous mass at anterior half of right vocal cord involving inferior surface and also extending upto anterior commissure. Mobility of both vocal cords was normal. On the basis of the above findings with normal vocal cords mobility, the microlaryngeal surgery with coblation was planned. After complete pre-op work up, the patient underwent trans-oral microscopic coblation excision of mass under general anaesthesia. Power level was set to 7 for ablation and 3 for coagulation. The PROciseTM LW Plasma Wand system was chosen such that it was malleable to reach the papillomatous mass without obstructing the vision. It was totally excised and sent for histopathology examination. Post-operatively after four hours, he was able to take normal diet comfortably. He was followed up after 10 days. Histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of papilloma. Check laryngoscopy was performed after 3 weeks. Laryngeal examination was absolutely normal with almost normal vocal cords and normal voice post-operatively. Conclusion: Microscopic surgery with coblation has the advantages of less bleeding, short procedure duration, increased completion rate and few complications.

Long-term effects of an intensive voice treatment for vocal fold nodules

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the long-term effects of intensive voice treatment for vocal fold nodules, compared to outcomes for patients treated with traditional voice therapy. It was hypothesised that intensive treatment would provide comparable maintenance of vocal function, voice quality, and patients’ perception of quality-of-life when compared with traditional treatment at 6 month follow-up.Method: Thirty-six women diagnosed with bilateral vocal fold nodules who were treated with either traditional (n = 20; once a week for 8 weeks) or intensive (n = 16; eight sessions within 3 weeks) therapy. Each participant completed voice, stroboscopic, and acoustic assessments and the Voice Handicap Index before, immediately post and 6 months post-treatment.Result: Results revealed most improved perceptual, stroboscopic and acoustic parameters were maintained in both groups at 6 months post-treatment, with no significant differences between the two groups. In addition, both groups maintained satisfaction on their perception of vocal function, with no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: The investigation provided further evidence that individuals with vocal fold nodules are able to maintain improved voice quality and vocal health following intensive voice treatment to a similar degree to traditional voice treatment.

Polemics of Arsenii Matseevich

Arsenii Matseevich, an important ecclesiastical figure, defended the doctrine of Orthodox Church from schismatics, in particular, from attacks of Ioasif, who, among others, wanted to abolish the Orthodox priesthood. Matseevich was also involved in polemics with Lutherans who criticized Iavorskii’s monumental The Rock of faith . The article discusses arguments Matseevich used against schismatics and Lutherans. Matseevich was an isolated vocal voice that opposed the idea of secularization of the Church. The article describes arguments he used to retain the dignity of the Church and even to restore it to the former glory. For all his efforts Catherine II put him in prison where he died.

A Feminist Critical Evaluation of How Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s Language of Protest Deplored Patriarchy and Social Anachronism in the British Bengal

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880-1932), a Bengali writer and a social activist in the British Bengal during late 19 th and early 20 th century, is well known for her severe discontent with the on-going suppression, oppression and deprivation of Muslim women in particular by the patriarchal family and society of the age. Her dissatisfaction amounted to pinching criticism with the language of protest when she saw women being refused to enjoy equal rights and privileges like their male counterparts in the lame excuse of religion. She found misinterpretation of Islam and social backwardness to cling to patriarchal tradition to be the root causes behind women’s unspeakable misery. She also witnessed how women were falling behind with men in all spheres of life due to lack of exposure to modern education. So, she felt the urgency of lifting women out of the dungeon of ignorance to light in order to establish a balanced participatory society where women would no longer remain dependent on men. With this end in view, she kept writing profusely and campaigning selflessly for securing a dignified position for women in general within the family and society. The present paper simultaneously documents her vocal voice of protest against various social anomalies and critically evaluates her immense literary and social contribution to promoting women’s general and vocational education in a formal setting.

Eliminating paranasal sinus resonance and its effects on acoustic properties of the nasal tract

The significance of nasal resonance and anti-resonance to voice production is a classical issue in vocal pedagogy and voice research. The complex structure of the nasal tract produces a complex frequency response. This complexity must be heavily influenced by the morphology of the paranasal cavities, but their contributions are far from being entirely understood. Detailed analyses of these cavities are difficult because of their limited accessibility. Here we test different methods aiming at documenting the acoustical properties of the paranasal tract. The first set of experiments was performed under in vivo conditions, where the middle meatus was occluded by means of targeted application of a maltodextrin mass under endoscopic control. The efficiency of this occlusion method was verified by measuring the nasal nitric oxide (NO) output during humming. In another experiment the frequency responses to sine sweep excitation of an epoxy mould of a nasal cavity were measured, with and without elimination of paranasal sinuses. The third experiment was conducted in a cadaveric situs, with and without maltodextrin occlusion of the middle meatus and the sphenoidal ostia. The results show that some nasal tract resonances were unaffected by the manipulation of the paranasal cavities. Providing access to a maxillary sinus resulted in marked dips in the response curve while access to the sphenoidal ostium caused only minor effects.

Use of Vocal Self-Perception and Perceptual Voice Analysis for Detection Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults

Use of Vocal Self-Perception and Perceptual Voice Analysis for Detection Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults

Late Consequences of Traumatic Rupture of the Diaphragm

A 54-year-old man was admitted to our clinic due to elevated γ-glutamyltransferase, without any clinical symptoms. About 25 years ago, he had undergone blunt abdominal and thoracic trauma during an accident. No diagnostic measures or therapy had been performed at that time. Serum bilirubin was normal, but the values for alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were slightly above the reference range. Sonography of the abdomen revealed dilated intrahepatic bile ducts up to 3 mm in diameter and steatosis of the liver grade I. CT scan and MRI of the thorax and abdomen showed a giant hiatal hernia with transposition of upper abdominal organs into the chest. As the patient presented clinically completely asymptomatic, without dyspnea, dysfunction of phonation or ingestion, we decided a conservative treatment with Ursodesoxycholic acid. The liver values resolved with this regimen gradually. At follow-up examination 1 year later, they had normalized. Spirometry showed a reduced lung capacity (3.44 L; 64.4% of the desired value) and a reduced FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) of 2.84 L (70.2% of the desired value). Further diagnostics revealed normal otorhinolaryngological and phoniatric findings including stroboscopy of the vocal folds and voice range profile.

Vocal cord granuloma and voice change following tracheal intubation in an actor

This is a clinical report highlighting a vocal cord granuloma, a rare complication of short-term tracheal intubation, as a cause for persisting voice change and hoarseness in a 42-year male actor. The etiology and treatment for vocal cord granulomas are briefly discussed.

Vocal Effort and Voice Handicap Among Teachers

The relationship between voice handicap and professional vocal effort was investigated among teachers in a cross-sectional study of census nature on 4496 teachers within the public elementary education network in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Voice handicap (the outcome of interest) was evaluated using the Voice Handicap Index 10. The main exposure, the lifetime vocal effort index, was obtained as the product of the number of years working as a teacher multiplied by the mean weekly working hours. The prevalence of voice handicap was 28.8% among teachers with high professional vocal effort and 21.3% among those with acceptable vocal effort, thus yielding a crude prevalence ratio (PR) of 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.14-1.61). In the final logistic model, the prevalence of voice handicap was statistically associated with the professional vocal effort index (PR=1.47; 95% CI=1.19-1.82), adjusted according to sex, microphone availability in the classroom, excessive noise, pressure from the school management, heartburn, and rhinitis.

Zaburzenia procesu komunikatywnego w praktyce otolaryngologicznej

Summary Disorders of communication process concerns voice, speech and hearing problems. The most common voice disorder in ENT practice is dysphonia. Mostly it is acute inflammation, but also functional dysphonia in which an abnormal voice is produced in the absence of vocal pathologies, either structural or neurogenic. It could be also vocal folds paralysis dysphonia or voice disorders due to benign organic vocal fold lesions. Some of those organic changes (vocal nodules, polyps, hypertrophy and thickening of vocal folds epithelium) frequently appears in cases with vocal abuse or inappropriate vocal use. Children's speech development closely depends on hearing, intelligence average, central nervous system function as well as on articulation organ morphology. Hearing problems as a etiological factor of communication process disorders in ENT practice, supposed to focus on early detection and management of hypacusis in newborns (screening stages) as well as on a proper diagnosis and treatment of conductive hearing loss or unilateral deafness.