Examination of aerodynamic measures and strain by vibratory source.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with laryngotracheal stenosis often require airway reconstruction. Following surgical intervention, voicing may be produced with either a glottic or supraglottic vibratory source. The objective of this study was to compare average airflow, estimated subglottal pressure, and expert perceptual rating of strain between children with glottic and supraglottic vibratory sources post-airway reconstruction.


METHODS
This study was a non-randomized prospective study conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Center for Pediatric Voice Disorders, and included 12 participants with a diagnosis of subglottic stenosis, post-laryngotracheal reconstruction.


RESULTS
Expert perceptual ratings of strain were significantly higher for participants with supraglottic versus glottic voicing (P = 0.0001). Although the mean airflow measure was higher for participants with glottic phonation and mean pressure measure was higher for those with supraglottic voicing, these comparisons failed to reach significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who exhibit supraglottic phonation patterns demonstrate greater strain during speech, as well as potential alterations to aerodynamic patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant differences in perceived strain by vibratory source are noteworthy, as perceptual quality is always a patient's motivation to seek treatment.
Weinrich
Barbara
B
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45056, USA. weinribd@muohio.edu
Baker
Susan
S
Kelchner
Lisa
L
Middendorf
Janet
J
Krival
Kate
K
Elluru
Ravindhra
R
Zur
Karen B
KB
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D010700:Phonetics; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012212:Rheology; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D014732:Vibration; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*