title: The Measurement of Airflow Using Singing Helmet That Allows Free Movement of the Jaw.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Airflow measurement is a useful method of evaluating laryngeal physiology. We introduce a noninvasive device that measures airflow without restricting jaw movement or requiring phonation into a mouthpiece, thus facilitating measurement during singing and connected speech.
  
  
  METHODS
  Validation and human subject trials were conducted. Airflow measurements were obtained from 16 male and 16 female subjects during singing, speech, and constant vowel production tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A similar helmet was designed by Stevens and Mead in 1968. The new device validity was evaluated by comparing the measured volume of air to a known volume of administered air using a calibration syringe. Subjects were asked to voice sustained vowels at low, medium, and high vocal intensity, read two sentences at a conversational volume, and perform different singing exercises while airflow was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The device accurately and reliably measured airflow with mean airflow values falling within previously published ranges. There was an experimentally determined response time of 0.173 ± 0.014 seconds. Subjects were able to comfortably perform speech and singing exercises. Male subjects had higher airflow for all sustained vowels (P < 0.05). Airflow was higher for abduction rather than adduction sentences (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No other portable device has been shown to measure airflow during singing and speech while allowing for free movement of the jaw. This device provides a more natural environment to measure airflow that could be used to help evaluate laryngeal function and aid in singing training.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin. Electronic address: jjjiang@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Jack J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Rewais B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Malachi V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Willey
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rieves
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D063346:Singing; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aerodynamics; Airflow measurement; Connected speech; Singing