Beauty and Attractiveness in the Human Voice.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the difference between vocal beauty and vocal attractiveness by determining whether perceptual ratings of vocal beauty and vocal attractiveness could be dissociated in a cohort of normal raters without a diagnosed sexual desire disorder.

Methods: Twenty five gay male participants were presented with randomly-chosen samples from the Geneva Voices and Faces Database, and were asked to rate each sample in terms of beauty, attractiveness for a relationship of short duration, and attractiveness for a relationship of long duration. Responses were recorded on a visual analog scale (0-100) using a touch-screen interface.

The Effect of Head Position and/or Stance on the Self-perception of Phonatory Effort.

Background: Vocal fatigue is a common but poorly defined complaint of patients presenting with voice disorders. Definitions of vocal fatigue generally include increased self-perceived phonatory effort resulting from references to vocal loading or prolonged voice use resulting in deterioration of function. The present study looks at the role of posture, specifically head position and stance, in self-perceived phonatory effort.

Validation of a telephone screening tool for spasmodic dysphonia and vocal fold tremor.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective of this study was to ascertain whether clinicians can reliably distinguish between spasmodic dysphonia (SD)/vocal tremor and other voice disorders by telephone, despite this modality's limited frequency response.

Study Design: Randomized, single-blinded, and prospective study.

Methods: Voice-disordered patients with (n = 22) and without (n = 17) SD and/or vocal tremor recorded standardized utterances via landline telephone.

The management of postintubation phonatory insufficiency.

Introduction: Prolonged intubation may lead to medial arytenoid cartilage erosion and cricoarytenoid joint scarring with subsequent glottic insufficiency. This has been referred to as postintubation phonatory insufficiency (PIPI). Reports on treatment outcomes for this condition are lacking.

Performer's attitudes toward seeking health care for voice issues: understanding the barriers.

Contemporary commercial music (CCM) performers rely heavily on their voice, yet may not be aware of the importance of proactive voice care. This investigation intends to identify perceptions and barriers to seeking voice care among CCM artists. This cross-sectional observational study used a 10-item Likert-based response questionnaire to assess current perceptions regarding voice care in a population of randomly selected participants of professional CCM conference.

Vocal emergencies.

Acute management of vocal emergencies can be a difficult and stressful element in otolaryngology. A thoughtful history coupled with appropriate diagnostic instrumentation is the cornerstone of evaluating a patient with a vocal emergency. This article explores the differential diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of vocal emergencies in the performer.

Electrotherapy and the human voice: a literature review of the historical origins and contemporary applications.

The present article surveys the literature on the electrotherapy treatment for voice disorders from the mid-18th century to World War I (1914--1918) and the post 1970s reappearance of such therapies. The reappearance of electrotherapy as treatment for voice disorders in the past 20 years has been heralded as a major breakthrough. In light of our reading of the scientific literature of the 19th century, it can be shown to repeat many of the presuppositions of electrotherapists of that time.