Hyolaryngeal Kinematics in Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia Determined by Ultrasound.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine hyolaryngeal kinematics during voicing in people with primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD) compared with healthy speakers, and to investigate the relationships between hyolaryngeal displacement and self-perceived vocal function.

Methods: Twenty-six participants, 13 with pMTD and 13 healthy speakers, were assessed using sonography during sustained vowel phonation and rest. Displacement of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage was measured from still frames extracted from ultrasound video recordings, with measures normalized to reflect change from rest during voicing for each participant.

A Conceptual Framework and Treatment Taxonomy for Respiratory Lung Volume Training (RLVT).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the theoretical and procedural framework of a novel intervention, Respiratory Lung Volume Training (RLVT), and to implement a standardized treatment taxonomy to operationalize the RLVT treatment paradigm.

Study Design: This study involved a prospective design with a consensus treatment classification process.

Methods: The RLVT paradigm was developed based on biomechanical constructs governing the interactions of the respiratory and phonatory systems in voice production and principles of motor learning theory.