title: Aerodynamic profiles of women with muscle tension dysphonia/aphonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the authors aimed to (a) determine whether phonatory airflows and estimated subglottal pressures (est-Psub) for women with primary muscle tension dysphonia/aphonia (MTD/A) differ from those for healthy speakers; (b) identify different aerodynamic profile patterns within the MTD/A subject group; and (c) determine whether results suggest new understanding of pathogenesis in MTD/A.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of aerodynamic data collected from 90 women at the time of primary MTD/A diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aerodynamic profiles were significantly different for women with MTD/A as compared with healthy speakers. Five distinct profiles were identified: (a) normal flow, normal est-Psub; (b) high flow, high est-Psub; (c) low flow, normal est-Psub; (d) normal flow, high est-Psub; and (e) high flow, normal est-Psub.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to identify distinct subgroups of aerodynamic profiles in women with MTD/A and to quantitatively identify a clinical phenomenon sometimes described in association with it-"breath holding"-that is shown by low airflow with normal est-Psub. Results were consistent with clinical claims that diverse respiratory and laryngeal functions may underlie phonatory patterns associated with MTD/A. One potential mechanism, based in psychobiological theory, is introduced to explain some of the variability in aerodynamic profiles of women with MTD/A.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. aig7@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Amanda I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartner-Schmidt
authors.forename: Elaine N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Katherine Verdolini
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000392:Air Movements; D001044:Aphonia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology*; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult