title: Semioccluded Vocal Tract Exercises: Changes in Laryngeal and Pharyngeal Activity During Stroboscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in laryngeal activity from baseline during three different semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective case-series study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transnasal stroboscopy was performed while four singers performed three SOVTs (straw phonation, lip trill, and tongue trill) to evaluate laryngeal changes during the execution of SOVTs. Evaluations using a modified Stroboscopy Evaluation Rating Form captured the following parameters: amplitude of vocal fold movement, mucosal wave, phase closure, glottal closure, anterior-posterior vocal tract constrictions, medial-lateral vocal tract constrictions, laryngeal ascension, and pharyngeal constriction during a pitch glide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parameters that changed from baseline, as well as the direction and magnitude of change that occurred across SOVTs, varied within and between each subject. All the singers benefited from at least one SOVT, but no single SOVT benefited all four singers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although SOVTs result in endoscopic and stroboscopic changes that might be considered beneficial, the results indicate marked variability across SOVTs and singers in terms of the laryngeal and pharyngeal adjustments induced by the exercises. Singing teachers and Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) may need to more carefully assess the impact of specific SOVTs when deciding which one(s) to prescribe as a teaching or therapeutic exercise.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Dole Human Development Center, Lawrence, Kansas. Electronic address: tdargin@ku.edu.
authors.forename: Troy Clifford
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Dargin
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Kansas City, Missouri.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeLaunay
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Searl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010699:Phonation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063346:Singing; D049489:Stroboscopy; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training
keywords: Laryngeal; Pharyngeal; Semioccluded vocal tract; Singing; Stroboscopy