A Vocal Health Survey Among Amateur and Professional Voice Users.

An international survey was conducted to provide insights into current practices related to vocal health among amateur and professional voice users. Vocalists of various genres completed an online survey related to their practice in seeking medical care for vocal health concerns, and their preferences for the type of medical help they seek. Specific vocal symptoms or conditions which the subjects feel would warrant evaluation was also queried, as well as their preference for voice use and management should laryngeal pathology be diagnosed during a medical examination. Participants were knowledgeable in both traditional and alternative medical approaches but showed a preference for those options most readily available, as opposed to those best suited for a vocal issue. Ideally, a combination of traditional and alternative management would appear to be the best long-term strategy for professional and amateur voice users.

Aerodynamic measures and biofeedback as management in persistent paradoxical vocal fold motion and reverse phonation.

OBJECTIVES: Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) and reverse phonation are characterized by aberrant vocal fold adduction. To date, there have been no studies examining the aerodynamic events during reverse phonation. We present an unusual case of persistent reverse phonation secondary to respiratory distress associated with PVFM. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: We present the case of a 42-year-old female with sudden onset of respiratory distress associated with PVFM and persistent reverse phonation. She underwent baseline aerodynamic measurements followed by trial therapy. Through the use of instrumental and tactile aerodynamic biofeedback, the patient was able to coordinate exhalatory breath pressure flow during phonation, which resulted in immediately improved voice quality from highly dysphonic to nearly normal voice quality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with reverse phonation seldom undergo aerodynamic testing as part of the initial diagnostic and management program. Our case study demonstrates the effectiveness of aerodynamic technology to enable a patient with aberrant glottic function to recognize inspiratory phonation events and to reestablish consistent expiratory flow/pressure egress in speech tasks. Instrumental and tactile biofeedback is effective for reinforcement of normal flow patterns during speech tasks.