title: Voice Therapy Effect on Mutational Falsetto Patients: A Vocal Aerodynamic Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of voice therapy (VT) and analyze the vocal aerodynamic characteristics in mutational falsetto (MF) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2010 through May 2014, 26 patients with MF at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital were studied retrospectively. Vocal assessment, including the 10-item Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), fundamental frequency (F0), and vocal aerodynamic parameters (subglottic pressure [SGP]), aerodynamic power [AP], mean expiratory airflow, and maximum phonation time [MPT]), was proceeded before and after VT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before VT, the mean F0, AP, and SGP of MF patients were significantly higher than Control Group, whereas mean MPT was significantly shorter. After a 4-week VT, the mean F0, AP, and SGP were decreased, and the mean MPT was significantly increased compared with the measurements obtained before VT. After the 4-week VT, the VHI-10 scores in 21 patients reverted to normal Control Group's level (Effective Subgroup), whereas the VHI-10 scores in the other 5 patients remained higher than the normal Control Group (Ineffective Subgroup). Subgroup analysis showed the mean AP and SGP of the Ineffective Subgroup were similar to the Control Group, whereas the Effective Subgroup showed higher AP and SGP. After the 4-week VT, MPT in both the Effective Subgroup and Ineffective Subgroup increased significantly, but AP and SGP in the Ineffective Subgroup did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VT is an effective treatment for MF patients with laryngeal hyperfunction. Most MF patients can return to normal voice in 4 weeks. Vocal aerodynamic examination can help in predicting the VT effect and deciding the treatment plan. MF patients without laryngeal hyperfunction may need longer VT period or other adjuvant treatment.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Institute of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Fa-Ya
authors: FY
authors: Liang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Institute of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors: Xiao-Ming
authors: XM
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China.
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Yu-Zhang
authors: YZ
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Institute of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors: Xue-Yuan
authors: XY
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, People's Hospital of Xinxing County, Yunfu, Guangdong 527400, China.
authors: Jin-Hui
authors: JH
authors: Su
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors: Ya-Jing
authors: YJ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors: Jin-Shan
authors: JS
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Institute of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors: Yi-Qing
authors: YQ
authors: Zheng
authors: Outpatient Department of Voice and Laryngopharyngeal Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China. Electronic address: mxs0371@sina.com.
authors: Xiang-Sheng
authors: XS
authors: Mei
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Institute of Hearing and Speech-Language Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China. Electronic address: sysmhvoice@gmail.com.
authors: Zhong
authors: Z
authors: Guan
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fundamental frequency; Mutational falsetto; Subglottic pressure; Vocal aerodynamics; Voice therapy