Management of Pediatric Voice Disorders: Perceived Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Patterns Among Otolaryngologists in Southwest China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns of otolaryngologists in Southwest China in managing pediatric dysphonia.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: An online survey was disseminated between August and September 2023 to hospital-based otolaryngologists in Southwest China.

Systematic Review: Singing-Based Interventions to Improve Physical Functions Related to Aging Voice in Older Adults.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of singing as an intervention for aging voice.

Method: Quantitative studies of interventions for older adults with any medical condition that involves singing as training were reviewed, measured by respiration, phonation, and posture, which are the physical functions related to the aging voice. English and Chinese studies published until April 2024 were searched using 31 electronic databases, and seven studies were included.

The Relationship Between Voice Parameters and Speech Intelligibility: A Scoping Review.

Objective: To synthesize existing evidence of the relationship between voice parameters and speech intelligibility.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 13 databases were searched and a manual search was conducted. A narrative synthesis of methodological quality, study characteristics, participant demographics, voice parameter categorization, and their relationship to speech intelligibility was conducted.

Management of Pediatric Voice Disorders: Perceived Knowledge, Confidence, Attitude and Practice Patterns Among School-based Speech-language Pathologists in Hong Kong.

Objective: This survey evaluated the levels of self-perceived knowledge, confidence, attitude and practice patterns of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Hong Kong regarding their management of pediatric voice disorders.

Methods: SLPs with experience working in school settings in Hong Kong were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey ascertained SLPs' perception of their knowledge, confidence, attitude and practice patterns regarding their management of pediatric voice disorders.

The Effectiveness of Vocal Hygiene Education With Resonant Voice Therapy for School-Aged Children With Vocal Nodules.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of vocal hygiene education with resonant voice therapy for school-aged children with vocal nodules.

Study Design: A pre-test/post-test control group design was employed.

Methods: Seventeen children aged between 6 and 9 years old with vocal nodules were randomly assigned to three groups: a treatment group, a placebo group and a control group.

The Effects of Dysphonic Voice on Speech Intelligibility in Cantonese-Speaking Adults.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effects of dysphonic voice on speech intelligibility in Cantonese-speaking adults. Method Speech recordings from three speakers with dysphonia secondary to phonotrauma and three speakers with healthy voices were presented to 30 healthy listeners (15 men and 15 women; = 22.7 years) under six noise conditions (signal-to-noise ratio [SNR] -10, SNR -5, SNR 0, SNR +5, SNR +10) and quiet conditions.

Self-Perceived Voice Problems in a Nontreatment Seeking Older Population in Hong Kong.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of self-perceived voice problems and voice-related quality of life in a nontreatment seeking older population in Hong Kong.

Study Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey.

Methods: One hundred and one older individuals aged 65 years or above were recruited from senior citizen community centers in Hong Kong.

One-Year Follow-Up of a Vocal Hygiene Program for School-Age Children.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of a school-based vocal hygiene education program "Green Voice for School" on promoting knowledge of healthy voice use for primary school students.

Methods: Thirty-nine grade 4 and 5 students from local primary schools participated in the "Green Voice for School" program. Students received 6 weekly vocal hygiene training sessions with the aim of enhancing their voice care knowledge.

Parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices about vocal hygiene for their children in Chengdu, a city from China.

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of parents towards vocal hygiene for their children and explore the barriers against implementation of vocal hygiene in Chengdu, a city from mainland China.An online questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and practice was available for parents to complete between March 1 and March 31, 2017. The questionnaire included 5 sections, general demographics; knowledge; attitudes; practices and barriers; and expectation.

A propensity-matched analysis of clinical outcomes between open thyroid lobectomy and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of benign thyroid nodules.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound is a promising, nonoperative treatment for benign thyroid nodules. Our study aimed to compare treatment outcomes of single-session high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation with open lobectomy after propensity score matching.

Methods: After propensity matching, we compared treatment-related morbidity, treatment time, duration of hospitalization, improvement in symptom score, cost, and acoustic parameters of consecutive patients who underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation or lobectomy.

The Impact of Dysphonic Voices on Children's Comprehension of Spoken Language.

Background: This study investigated the effect of teachers' dysphonic voices on children's listening comprehension.

Methods: One hundred thirty-four grade three and four students were recruited from local primary schools in Hong Kong. They were required to listen to six passages, three in Cantonese and three in English, which were either read in normal, mildly dysphonic, or severely dysphonic voices.

Adaptation and validation of Mandarin Chinese version of the pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI).

Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the English version of pediatric voice handicap index (pVHI) into Mandarin Chinese.
 METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from May 2016 to April 2017. A total of 367 parents participated in this study, and 338 parents completed the translated questionnaire without missing data, including 213 parents of children with voice disorders (patients group), and 125 parents of children without voice disorders (control group).

Mandarin (Simplified) Chinese Version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile: Adaptation and Validation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Mandarin (simplified) Chinese version of Voice Activity and Participation Profile (MC-VAPP) in mainland China.

Methods: This study enrolled 786 subjects from February 2015 to March 2017, including 456 individuals with voice disorders (dysphonic group) and 330 vocally healthy individuals (nondysphonic group). The internal consistency (Cronbach alpha coefficient), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]), and differences in the MC-VAPP scores were compared between the two groups.

Single-session high intensity focussed ablation (HIFU) versus open cervical hemithyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodule: analysis on early efficacy, safety and voice quality.

Background: High intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising non-surgical treatment for symptomatic benign thyroid nodule. We aimed to compare early efficacy, safety and voice quality between HIFU ablation and open thyroidectomy.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent single-session HIFU ablation or a hemithyroidectomy for symptomatic benign thyroid nodule were included.

Effects of Coaching and Repeated Trials on Maximum Phonational Frequency Range in Children.

Purpose: Maximum phonational frequency range (MPFR) is the frequency range from the lowest to the highest pitch that an individual can produce. This study investigated the effects of coaching and repeated trials on MPFR in a group of school-age children.

Methods: Thirty girls aged 6-11 years were randomly assigned into two groups: coaching and non-coaching.

Speech task effects on acoustic measure of fundamental frequency in Cantonese-speaking children.

Objectives: Speaking fundamental frequency (F0) is a voice measure frequently used to document changes in vocal performance over time. Knowing the intra-subject variability of speaking F0 has implications on its clinical usefulness. The present study examined the speaking F0 elicited from three speech tasks in Cantonese-speaking children.

Is Acupuncture Efficacious for Treating Phonotraumatic Vocal Pathologies? A Randomized Control Trial.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions.

Study Design/methods: A total of 123 dysphonic individuals with benign vocal pathologies were recruited. They were given either genuine acupuncture (n = 40), sham acupuncture (n = 44), or no treatment (n = 39) for 6 weeks (two 30-minute sessions/wk).

Wound-healing effect of acupuncture for treating phonotraumatic vocal pathologies: A cytokine study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Acupuncture is a less-invasive procedure when compared with surgical treatment for benign vocal pathologies caused by vocal overuse. This study aimed to determine the wound-healing effect of acupuncture in treating phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions.

Study Design: Two-way, mixed-model, between- and within-subjects, prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded group design.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on acoustic voice parameters after uncomplicated thyroidectomy.

Background: Postthyroidectomy voice changes are common even without apparent laryngeal nerve injury. Our study evaluated the impact of open cervical thyroidectomy on five acoustic voice parameters in the early (< 3 months) and late (≥ 3 months) postoperative periods.

Methods: A systematic review was performed to identify studies that quantitatively assessed voice quality by acoustic voice analysis before and after thyroidectomy.

Noise levels in an urban Asian school environment.

Background noise is known to adversely affect speech perception and speech recognition. High levels of background noise in school classrooms may affect student learning, especially for those pupils who are learning in a second language. The current study aimed to determine the noise level and teacher speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) in Hong Kong classrooms.

Effects of error experience when learning to simulate hypernasality.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of error experience on the acquisition of hypernasal speech.

Method: Twenty-eight healthy participants were asked to simulate hypernasality in either an errorless learning condition (in which the possibility for errors was limited) or an errorful learning condition (in which the possibility for errors was not limited). The nasality level of the participants' speech was measured with a nasometer and reflected by nasalance scores (in percentages).

Facial bone vibration in resonant voice production.

Purpose: This study investigated whether resonant voice training would enhance facial bone vibration during resonant voice production.

Methods: Twelve normal healthy participants undertook four sessions of resonant voice training, each lasted for 30 minutes. Piezoelectric accelerometer was used to measure the vibratory level on the face (nasal bridge and upper lip) and the perilaryngeal area during the production of nasal consonant /m/ and vowels /a/, /i/, and /u/ before and after the resonant voice training.

Reliability of laryngostroboscopic evaluation on lesion size and glottal configuration: a revisit.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study investigated the inter-rater and intrarater reliability of four basic visual perceptual parameters (lesion size rating and glottal configuration) in laryngostroboscopic evaluation.

Study Design: Cohort Study.

Methods: Two hundred fifty-five laryngostroboscopic video samples were evaluated by three raters on four measurements: 1) mass lesion size rating, 2) amplitude of vocal fold vibration, 3) supraglottic activity, and 4) shape of the glottal closure using the modified Stroboscopy Examination Rating Form.

The effects of self-controlled feedback on learning of a "relaxed phonation task".

Background: This study examined the effects of self-controlled feedback paradigm on motor learning of a relaxed phonation task. It investigated whether providing the learner with more control over practice condition has positive influences on the performance and learning of "relaxed phonation" skill.

Methods: Vocally healthy individuals were randomly assigned into either self-controlled feedback group (SELF) or clinician-controlled feedback group (YOKED).