Effects of voice therapy as objectively evaluated by digitized laryngeal stroboscopic imaging.
Objective measurements derived from digitized laryngeal stroboscopic images were used to demonstrate changes in vocal fold vibration and in the size of benign lesions after 3 months of voice therapy. Forty chronically dysphonic patients were studied. By means of a rigid stroboscope, pretreatment and posttreatment recordings were made of the vocal folds at rest and under stroboscopic light during phonation. From each recording, images of the positions at rest and during vibration at maximal opening and at maximal closure were digitized. The surface areas of any lesions and of the glottal gap were independently measured in the digitized images by 2 experienced laryngologists. Referential distances were determined in order to compensate for discrepancies in magnification in the various recordings. After 3 months of voice therapy, significant improvement in lesion size and degree of maximal closure during vibration could be demonstrated in about 50% of the patients. The degree of maximal opening did not prove to be a significant parameter.
Speyer
Reneé
R
Phoniatric Department, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Weineke
George
G
Hosseini
Elham Ghazi
EG
Kempen
Pieter A
PA
Kersing
Willem
W
Dejonckere
Philippe H
PH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014834:Voice Training