Vocal evaluation in teachers with or without symptoms

The aim of this study was to perform voice evaluation in teachers with and without vocal symptoms, identifying etiologic factors of dysphonia, voice symptoms, vocal qualities, and laryngeal lesions. Eighty teachers were divided into two groups: GI (without or sporadic symptoms, 40) and GII (with frequent vocal symptoms, 40). They answered a specific questionnaire, and were subject to a perceptual vocal assessment (maximum phonation time, glottal attack, resonance, coordination of breathing and voicing, pitch, and loudness), GIRBAS scale, and to videolaryngoscopy. Females were predominant in both groups, and the age range was from 36 to 50 years. Elementary teachers predominated, working in classes with 31-40 students. Voice symptoms and alterations in the perceptual vocal analysis and in the GIRBAS scale were more frequent in GII In 46 teachers (GI-16; GII-30), videolaryngoscopy exams were abnormal with the vocal nodules being the most frequent lesions. These results indicate that a teacher's voice is compromised, and requires more attention including control of environmental factors and associated diseases, preventive vocal hygiene, periodic laryngeal examinations, and access to adequate specialist treatment.

Vocal Polyps: Clinical, Morphological, and Immunohistochemical Aspects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Vocal Cysts: Clinical, Endoscopic, and Surgical Aspects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mucosal Bridge of the Vocal Fold: Difficulties in the Diagnosis and Treatment

Mucosal bridges are rare laryngeal lesions probably of genetic origin. They may cause dysphonia of varying degrees, especially when associated with other laryngeal lesions such as vocal sulci and cysts. Reports on mucosal bridges are rare, and the better treatment is inconclusive.Aim. To report the authors' experience in 14 cases of mucosal bridge showing details on endoscopic examinations and treatment.Study Design. Retrospective study.Methods. We reviewed the medical records of 14 patients with a diagnosis of mucosal bridge confirmed by video-laryngostroboscopy and direct laryngoscopy who attended the Outpatient Clinic of Voice Disorders of the Discipline of Otorhinolaryngology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, São Paulo. Data collected included information on gender, age, symptoms, time of onset, history of intubation, smoking status, alcohol intake, associated laryngeal lesions, treatment, and GRBAS (grade of hoarseness, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and stress) scale ratings.Results. of 14 patients, 10 were females and four were males. There was a prevalence of adults (n = 12), with only two of the patients being younger than 13 years (10 and 13 years). Mucosal bridges showed no correlations with smoking, alcohol intake, or gastroesophageal and sinonasal symptoms. Voice abuse was reported in 50% of the cases that consisted of patients who had high-voice demand occupations. In seven cases, mucosal bridges were associated with other laryngeal lesions, particularly vocal cysts and sulci. All patients who underwent surgery and phonotherapy showed improved vocal quality.Conclusions. We documented 14 patients with dysphonia caused by mucosal bridge. Promising results were obtained with surgery.

Vocal Fold Nodules: Morphological and Immunohistochemical Investigations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Energy substrate utilization during nightly vocal activity in three species of Scinax (Anura/Hylidae)

Anuran amphibians exhibit different patterns of energy substrate utilization that correlate with the intensity of vocal and locomotor activities. Given the remarkable differences among species in breeding and feeding strategies, and the different ways energy is used in the whole animal, the suggested correlations between calling and locomotor behavior and the level of energy substrates in the muscles responsible for such activities are more complex than previously reported. We explored the relationships between calling and locomotor behavior and energy supply to trunk and hindlimb muscles, respectively, within the ecologically diverse tree-frog genus Scinax. Specifically, we measured the relative amount of carbohydrates and lipids in these two groups of muscles, and in the liver of three species of Scinax that differ in vocal and locomotor performance, and compared our results with those of two other species for which comparable data are available. We also compared the contents of lipids and carbohydrates of conspecific males collected at the beginning and after 4 h of calling activity. The stomach content to potential feeding opportunities across species was also assessed in both groups of males. Scinax hiemalis and S. rizibilis exhibit comparatively low and episodic calling during long periods of activity whereas S. crospedospilus calls at higher rates over shorter periods. Male S. hiemalis had highest levels of trunk muscle glycogen followed by those of S. rizilbilis and S. crospedospilus, respectively. There was no correlation between total lipid content in trunk muscle and calling rate among different species, suggesting that other metabolic aspects may be responsible for the energetic support for vocal activity. The levels of lipids and carbohydrates in trunk and hindlimb muscles and liver of males collected at the beginning and 4 h into the calling period were similar across species, so the extent of energetic reserves does not appear to constrain vocal or locomotor activity. Finally, we found exceptionally high levels of carbohydrates and lipids in the liver of S. rizibilis, a trait perhaps related to a long and demanding breeding period.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and vocal disturbances

CONTEXTO: A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) é uma doença crônica na qual o conteúdo gastroduodenal reflui para o esôfago. O quadro clínico da DRGE é usualmente referido como pirose e regurgitação (manifestações típicas). Manifestações atípicas (distúrbios da voz e asma) podem também ser referidas. OBJETIVO: Analisar os aspectos clínicos, endoscópicos, manométricos e pHmétricos de pacientes portadores da DRGE com distúrbios da voz. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 50 pacientes com a DRGE, sendo 25 com distúrbios da voz (grupo 1 - G1) e 25 sem estes sintomas (controles, grupo 2 - G2). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a endoscopia, manometria e pHmetria esofágica (dois sensores). Os pacientes do G1 foram submetidos a videolaringoscopia. RESULTADOS: Achados endoscópicos: DRGE não-erosiva foi observada em 95% dos pacientes de G1 e em 88% de G2. Videolaringoscopia: congestão das pregas vocais, assimetria, nódulos e pólipos foram diagnosticados nos pacientes do G1. Manometria esofágica: pressão no esfíncter inferior do esôfago (mm Hg): 11,6 ± 5,2 em G1 e 14,0 ± 6,2 em G2 (P = 0,14); pressão no esfíncter superior do esôfago (mm Hg): 58,4 ± 15,9 em G1 e 69,5 ± 30,7 nos controles. Achados pHmétricos: índice de DeMeester: 34,0 ± 20,9 em G1 e 15,4 ± 9,4 em G2 (P<0,001); número de episódios de refluxo no sensor distal: 43,0 ± 20,4 em G1 e 26, 4 ± 17,2 em G2 (P<0,003); percentagem do tempo com pH esofágico menor que 4 unidades (sensor distal): 9,0% ± 6,4% em G1 e 3,4% ± 2,1% em G2 (P<0,001); número de episódios de refluxo no sensor proximal: 7,5 ± 10,9 em G1 e 5,3 ± 5,7 em G2 (P = 0,38); percentagem de tempo com pH esofágico menor que quatro unidades (sensor proximal): 1,2% ± 2,7% em G1 e 0,5% ± 0,7% em G2 (P = 0,210). CONCLUSÕES: Os aspectos clínicos, endoscópicos e manométricos em pacientes com a DRGE e distúrbios da voz não diferem dos pacientes sem estes sintomas. A intensidade do refluxo gastroesofágico é maior nos pacientes com distúrbios da voz. Os pacientes sem distúrbios da voz podem também apresentar episódios de refluxo gastroesofágico no sensor proximal.

Repertório vocal de Hylodes phyllodes (Amphibia, Anura, Hylodidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Programa de saúde vocal para educadores: ações e resultados

TEMA: a voz do professor tem sido foco de estudos nas últimas duas décadas devido à alta ocorrência de alterações vocais nesta classe profissional, assim, reforçou-se a necessidade dos professores participarem de ações para garantir saúde vocal. Poucos são os estudos na literatura que descrevem programas e seus resultados. PROCEDIMENTOS: Descrever um Programa de Saúde Vocal desenvolvido no período 2002 a 2005, para educadores de ensino público (infantil e fundamental) do interior do Estado de São Paulo, composto por grupos básicos de voz oferecendo conhecimento teórico prático de cuidados vocais, com triagem da qualidade da voz dos participantes; grupos avançados buscando reorganização dos processos de fonação e do uso vocal em sala de aula. RESULTADOS: em média 56% dos educadores inscritos frequentaram as ações; 62,9% das vozes apresentavam distúrbios na triagem vocal com maioria em grau discreto; no início dos grupos avançados 100% dos educadores participantes referiram mais de 3 sintomas associados ao uso vocal, e após, somente 45% deles ainda de 4 a 13 sintomas; os dados de autopercepção vocal revelaram baixos escores de impacto da voz nas atividades profissionais. CONCLUSÃO: a descrição revelou a necessidade de ajustes constantes do programa para alcançar seus objetivos. A baixa participação às ações pode estar relacionada à presença de impacto discreto da voz nas atividades profissionais, fato a ser mais bem investigado no futuro, e o benefício constatado objetivamente da participação dos educadores nos grupos avançados de voz foi a diminuição na quantidade de sintomas vocais.

Morphometric and histochemical study of the human vocal muscle

The present study was conducted on vocal muscles removed at autopsy Rom adult individuals (10 men and 8 women, aes ranging from 48 to 78 years) with no laryngeal disease. Histologic analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin staining, and histochemical analysis was performed by nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase, succinate dehydrogenase, and acid and alkaline myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase reactions. The histochemical reactions showed that the muscle consists of slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch glycolytic (FG), and fast-twitch glycolytic oxidative (FOG) fibers distributed in mosaic form. The frequencies of SO, FOG, and FG fibers were 40.50%, 54.75%, and 4.75%, respectively. The higher frequency of SO and FOG oxidative fibers characterizes the muscle as having aerobic metabolism, resistance to fatigue, and fast contraction. The mean minimum diameters were 31.37 mu m for SO fibers and 36.46 mu m for FOG and FG fibers.

Paralisia de corda vocal e cisto de tiroide

The authors present a rare case of vocal cord paralysis following thyroid cyst. The clinical diagnostic and evolution aspects are presented. The importance of precise evaluation of the thyroid gland in all cases of vocal cord paralysis is emphasized.

Laryngeal electromyography: Contribution to vocal fold immobility diagnosis

Laryngeal Electromyography (LEMG) is a diagnostic test commonly used in patients with vocal fold movement disorder The aim of this study is to describe LEMG in patients with vocalfold immobility. A total of 55 dysphonic patients with vocal fold immobility diagnosed by laryngeal endoscopy were grouped according to probable clinical cause: 1) unknown; 2) traumatic; or 3) tumoral compression. They were submitted to LEMG by percutaneous insertion of concentric needle electrode. LEMG was conclusive in all patients and showed a majority with peripheral nerve injury. LEMG diagnosed peripheral nerve damage in 25 group 1, 12 group 2, and 11 group 3 patients. LEMG was normal in 4 patients, suggesting cricoarytenoid joint fixation. Central nervous system disorders was suggested in 2 and myopathic pattern in 1. As the major cause of vocal fold immobility is peripheral nerve damage, LEMG is an important test to confirm diagnosis.

Vocal folds vibrations with a three-dimensional deformable model

In this work a computational method is presented to simulate the movements of vocal folds in three dimensions. The proposed model consists of a mesh free structure where each vertex is connected its neighbor through a group spring-damper. Forced oscillations were studied by time varying surface forces. The preliminary results using this model are similar with the literature and with the experimental stroboscopic observations of larynx. © 2006 IEEE.