title: Effects of steam inhalation on voice quality-related acoustic measures.
abstract: To investigate the effects of steam inhalation using a facial steamer on voice quality-related acoustic measures.
  
  
  
  Prospective outcome research: single-blinded experimental study.
  
  
  
  Forty-five vocally healthy female subjects ranging in age from 18 to 30 years (Mean age: 22.41 years; standard deviation [SD]: 8.91) participated in the study. Phonation samples were recorded under three different conditions in triplicate: baseline recording, immediately after mouth breathing (dehydration), and immediately after 3 minutes of steam inhalation via the mouth (rehydration).
  
  
  
  In the initial voice recording (prior to dehydration), mean jitter (0.42 %; SD: 0.07), shimmer (2.20 dB; SD: 0.45), and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) (21.60; SD: 2.41) values were within normal limits. After short-term mouth breathing (dehydration, approximately 10 minutes), the mean jitter (1.57 %; SD: 1.82) and shimmer (4.73 dB; SD: 1.83) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and HNR (18.64; SD: 3.16) was reduced (P < 0.05). After steam inhalation (rehydration) for 3 minutes, mean jitter (0.48 %; SD: 0.12) and shimmer (2.70 dB; SD: 0.71) showed significant decrease (P < 0.05), and HNR (20.10; SD: 3.69) showed significant increase (P < 0.05). All parameters statistically significantly improved from post dehydration values.
  
  
  
  The simple procedure of steam inhalation using a facial steamer displayed positive effects on parameters proposed to reflect voice quality.
  
  
  
  4. Laryngoscope, 126:2305-2309, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Shenbagavalli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. prakash_boominathan@sriramachandra.edu.in.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boominathan
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013227:Steam; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013227:Steam
keywords: Steam inhalation; surface hydration; voice quality-related acoustic measures