Effects of Vibratory Source on Auditory-Perceptual and Bio-Inspired Computational Measures of Pediatric Voice Quality.

Objective: The vibratory source for voicing in children with dysphonia is classified into three categories including a glottal vibratory source (GVS) observed in those with vocal lesions or hyperfunction; supraglottal vibratory sources (SGVS) observed secondary to laryngeal airway injuries, malformations, or reconstruction surgeries; and a combination of both glottal and supraglottal vibratory sources called mixed vibratory source (MVS). This study evaluated the effects of vibratory source on three primary dimensions of voice quality (breathiness, roughness, and strain) in children with GVS, SGVS, and MVS using single-variable matching tasks and computational measures obtained from bio-inspired auditory models.

Methods: A total of 44 dysphonic voice samples from children aged 4-11 years were selected.

Nasalance Scores for Normal Speakers of American English Obtained by the Nasometer II Using the MacKay-Kummer SNAP-R Test.

Objective: To establish nasalance score norms for adolescent and young adult native speakers of American English and also determine age-group and gender differences using the Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures (SNAP) Test-R and Nasometer II.

Design: Prospective study using a randomly selected sample of participants.

Setting: Greater Cincinnati area and Miami University of Ohio.

Endoscopic Findings in Male Prepubertal Choir Singers.

Objectives/hypothesis: The male singing voice through puberty undergoes many changes that present challenges for the singer and choral director. The purpose of this study was to discuss the endoscopic findings seen in prepubescent choir singers.

Study Design: Single-institution prospective study.

Perceptual Measures of Boychoir Voices During the Phases of Pubertal Voice Mutation.

Background/objectives: Vocal changes in the male singing voice associated with puberty are variable and often unpredictable resulting in challenges for the singer and the choral director. Limited knowledge regarding the physiologic changes in the vocal mechanism as they correlate to perceptual variations observed in the male adolescent singer exists in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine pitch breaks and perceptual characteristics of vocal quality during singing tasks for boys in various stages of the male changing voice.

Influence of preoperative voice assessment on treatment plan prior to airway surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: Voice quality has emerged as an additional long-term outcome measure for patients with a history of airway surgery. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative voice assessment on the surgical management of patients who required complex airway surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.