Supraglottic Activity and Vocal Cord Vibration in Patients with Vocal Fold Nodules

Na, Hee; Kim, Seong-Tae; Sim, Hyun-Sub

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Commun Sci Disord. 2010;15(3): 444-456.

Hee Na^` , Seong-Tae Kim^` , and Hyun-Sub Sim^`

나희(Hee Na)|김성태(Seong-Tae Kim)|심현섭(Hyun-Sub Sim)

ABSTRACT

Background & Objectives
The purpose of the present study was to examine supraglottic activity, vocal cord vibration and acoustic parameter characteristics of vocal cord nodules and to determine how the supraglottic activity, vocal cord vibration and acoustic parameters features in vocal fold nodules differ according to perceptual voice severity.
Methods
A total of 48 patients with vocal fold nodules participated in the present study. Videostroboscopy, MDVP and GRBAS scale analyses were performed on all patients. In the videostroboscopy test, seven measurements were assessed using a four-point scale: (1) false vocal folds compression (FVF compression), (2) anterior to posterior compression (A-P compression), (3) glottal closure, (4) amplitude, (5) mucosal wave, (6) symmetry, and(7) regularity. Additionally, in the MDVP test, three parameters were measured: (1) jitter, (2) shimmer, and (3) NHR. Perceptual voice severity was evaluated with the use of the GRBAS scale.
Results
A majority of the subjects had weak A-P compression however, the FVF compression was almost normal. The glottal closure showed anterior or posterior chink or hour-glass configuration chink. A majority of the subjects had a small amplitude mucosal wave, and the symmetry and regularity were normal level. Second, no parameters of the supraglottic activity or vocal cord vibration showed significant differences depending on perceptual voice severity. On the other hand, only the jitter parameter of the acoustic analysis showed asignificant difference with regard to perceptual voice severity. Among the parameters being examined, the jitter and shimmer parameters deviated from the normal values.
Discussion & Conclusion
The results from the present study indicated that patients with vocal fold nodules had slightly excessive levels of muscle tension during voice production. Therefore, the authors recommend including muscle tension reduction when treating patients with vocal fold nodules. (Korean Journal of Communication Disorders (2010;15;444-456)