Exploring Biomechanical Correlates in Voice Analysis of Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The predominant alterations in voice of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are phonatory instability, vocal asthenia and roughness, shortness of breath, hypophonia, and hypernasality. However, research on alterations of acoustic parameters has few studies and disparate results. The objective of this study was to investigate voice disturbances in patients with MS, both with objective measures (analysis of biomechanical) and subjective measures (scales and questionnaires). METHODS: This is an experimental study with a total of 20 participants with MS. Voice samples were collected, and biomechanical correlates were analyzed through the Clinical Voice Systems program, Online Lab App. The VHI-30 (Voice Handicap Index) questionnaire, the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used as subjective measures. RESULTS: Ninety-five percentages of participants feel and describe dysphonic difficulties. Self-perception of vocal disability correlated with auditory vocal perceptual analysis in the sample of women. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical parameters showed alterations in the strength of the glottic closure, the efficiency index, and the structural imbalance index.

Biomechanical Parameters of Voice in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research on voice in Parkinson's disease (PD) has consistently demonstrated alterations in acoustic parameters, including fundamental frequency (F0), maximum phonation time, Shimmer, and Jitter. However, investigations into acoustic parameter alterations in individuals with PD are limited. METHODS: We conducted an experimental study involving 20 PD patients (six women and fourteen men). Subjective measures of voice (VHI-30 scale and GRBAS) and objective measures using the OnlineLAB App tool for analyzing biomechanical correlates of voice were recorded. The app analyzed a total of 22 biomechanical parameters of voice. RESULTS: The results of subjective measures were consistent with findings from previous studies. However, the results of objective measures did not align with studies that employed acoustic measures. CONCLUSIONS: The biomechanical analysis revealed alterations in various parameters according to gender. These findings open up a new avenue of research in voice analysis for patients with PD, whether through acoustic or biomechanical analysis, aiming to determine whether the observed changes in these patients' voices are attributable to age or disease progression. This line of investigation will help elucidate the relative contribution of these factors to vocal alterations in PD patients and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Voice Sequelae Following Recovery From COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 is an infectious disease with a different symptomatic implication depending on each person. There are sequelae in the nervous, cardiovascular, and/or digestive system that involve the approach and multidisciplinary work of different health professionals where the speech therapist is included. In this way, we can speak of a direct relationship between speech therapy and Covid-19; especially in those patients with serious sequelae such as the inability to eat and/or speak and the loss of voice. The damage caused to the laryngeal mucosa triggers the loss of some of the qualities of the voice, limiting oral communication. That is why we can find dysphonias caused by a great weakness, by a continuous overexertion or because of a paralysis of the vocal cords. OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study was to identify the patterns of behavior in the biomechanical correlates of people who passed Covid-19 symptomatically with sequelae in voice. METHODS: An experimental study with a total of 21 participants (11 women and 10 men) with sequelae in voice post Covid-19 is presented. Voice samples were collected and biomechanical correlates were analyzed through the Voice Clinical Systems program. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results show different altered biomechanical patterns between men and women that correlate with other infectious diseases.