title: Voice function following Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate voice function following Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acoustic and articulatory function was examined by acoustic analysis and by formant frequency and bandwidth analysis, before and after Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, in 56 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These patients' normalised noise energy was higher than normal, and improved post-operatively. Their pre-operative F1, F2, and F3 formant frequencies and B1 and B2 formant bandwidths were significantly lower than those of normal controls; however, one month after surgery their F1 and F2 frequencies were markedly higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acoustic and articulatory characteristics of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome patients differed from those of normal subjects. After Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, obstructive factors in the oropharynx were relieved, allowing oropharyngeal cavity expansion and a gradual increase in formant frequency to within the normal range. Patients' vocal quality improved and their resonator and articulator functions were protected and enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*