title: Aerodynamic Outcomes of Four Common Voice Disorders: Moving Toward Disorder-Specific Assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The two goals of the present study were to (1) determine the ability of commonly used aerodynamic voice measures to capture change as a function of known interventions and (2) determine if certain aerodynamic measures demonstrate better responsiveness to change in specific disorder types than others.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, longitudinal, single-blinded, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 70) with a single voice disorder diagnosis of benign vocal fold lesions (lesions), unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), primary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD-1), or vocal fold atrophy (atrophy) underwent baseline testing, a single intervention (phonosurgery or voice therapy), and follow-up testing. Common aerodynamic measurements were completed in repeated syllables and an all-voiced sentence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements were observed for two outcome measures, average airflow in syllables, and average airflow in the all-voiced sentence. Patients with lesions, UVFP, and MTD-1 improved in average airflow in the all-voiced sentence. Patients with UVFP also improved in airflow in syllables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Average airflow in the all-voiced sentence changed as a function of treatment for the lesion, MTD-1, and UVFP groups, demonstrating a disorder-specific pattern. Laryngeal airway resistance, and estimates of average subglottal pressure did not show significant change. Average airflow in the all-voiced sentence measurements is recommended as a routine voice measure, and further investigation of other aerodynamic measures' sensitivity to change is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: dastolfoca@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dastolfo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartner-Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amanda I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000403:Airway Resistance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training
keywords: Aerodynamic; Airflow; Atrophy; Benign vocal fold lesions; Instrumentation; Muscle tension dysphonia; Outcomes; Vocal fold paralysis; Voice assessment; Voice lab