Effects of Smoke Generated by Electrocautery on the Larynx

Publication date: Available online 15 August 2016
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Yavuz Atar, Ziya Salturk, Tolgar Lutfi Kumral, Yavuz Uyar, Caglar Cakir, Gurcan Sunnetci, Guler Berkiten
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate effects of smoke produced by electrocautery on the laryngeal mucosa.Materials and MethodsWe used 16 healthy, adult female Wistar albino rats. We divided the rats into two groups. Eight rats were exposed to smoke for 60 min/d for 4 weeks, and eight rats were not exposed to smoke and served as controls. The experimental group was maintained in a plexiglass cabin during exposure to smoke. At the end of 4 weeks, rats were sacrificed under high-dose ketamine anesthesia. Each vocal fold was removed. An expert pathologist blinded to the experimental group evaluated the tissues for the following: epithelial distribution, inflammation, hyperplasia, and metaplasia. Mucosal cellular activities were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for Ki67. Results taken before and after effect were compared statistically.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the extent of inflammation between the experimental group and the control group. Squamous metaplasia was detected in each group, but the difference was not significant. None of the larynges in either group developed hyperplasia.ConclusionsWe showed increased tissue inflammation due to irritation by the smoke.



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The Influence of Voice Sample Length in the Auditory-Perceptual Judgment of Overall Voice Quality

Publication date: Available online 15 August 2016
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Ben Barsties, Youri Maryn
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the influence of voice sample lengths (VSLs) on the perceived degree of severity of overall voice quality. To increase a valid judgment in voice quality, a consistent rating is essential to estimate the presence and degree of severity of a voice.MethodsThree VSLs were defined by varying only the length of continuous speech followed by constant duration of 3 seconds of the mid-vowel portion sustained vowel [a:]. VSL-1 contained 17 syllables as is used for the Acoustic Voice Quality Index by Maryn et al (2010). VSL-2 consisted of a customized length (ie, with a mean number of 35.5 syllables of the original text, which corresponds to 3 seconds of only-voiced segments in continuous speech). VSL-3 had 93 syllables, which represent a complete phonetically balanced text. An expert panel of five judges rated 100 voice samples with various degrees of hoarseness. In total, three sessions were achieved judging one VSL variant in one session of the 100 voice samples.ResultsThe results showed significant differences of auditory-perceptual judgment between VSL-1 and VSL-2 (U = −4.985, P = 0.000), and between VSL-1 and VSL-3 (U = −5.642, P = 0.000). However, judgments of VSL-2 and VSL-3 did not differ significantly (U = −1.785, P = 0.074).ConclusionBased on these results, it can be concluded that the judgment of VSL-2 is comparable with the judgment of VSL-3. Therefore, speech material for clinical judgment can be reduced to VSL-2 for rating overall voice quality.



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A Joyful Noise: The Vocal Health of Worship Leaders and Contemporary Christian Singers

Publication date: Available online 15 August 2016
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Leon Neto, David Meyer
Contemporary commercial music (CCM) is a term that encompasses many styles of music. A growing subset of CCM is contemporary Christian music, a genre that has outpaced other popular styles such as Latin, jazz, and classical music. Contemporary Christian singers (CCSs) and worship leaders (WLs) are a subset of CCM musicians that face unique vocal demands and risks. They typically lack professional training and often perform in acoustically disadvantageous venues with substandard sound reinforcement systems. The vocal needs and risks of these singers are not well understood, and because of this, their training and care may be suboptimal. The aim of the present study was to investigate the vocal health of this growing population and their awareness of standard vocal hygiene principles. An online questionnaire was designed and administered to participants in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia. A total of 614 participants responded to the questionnaire, which is made available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Many participants reported vocal symptoms such as vocal fatigue (n = 213; 34.7%), tickling or choking sensation (n = 149; 24.3%), loss of upper range (n = 172; 28%), and complete loss of voice (n = 25; 4.1%). One third of the participants (n = 210; 34%) indicated that they do not warm up their voices before performances and over half of the participants (n = 319; 52%) have no formal vocal training. Results suggest that this population demonstrates low awareness of vocal hygiene principles, frequently experience difficulty with their voices, and may face elevated risk of vocal pathology. Future studies of this population may confirm the vocal risks that our preliminary findings suggest.



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Olympic Champion Also Achieves Excellence by Protecting His Child’s Hearing

“Audiologists around the world celebrated not only Michael Phelps’ outstanding Olympic achievements, but also the commitment of Michael and his fiancée to protecting their child’s ears in a very noisy and reverberant environment,” said Ian Windmill, PhD, President of the American Academy of Audiology.

During recent Olympic swim meets, Phelps’ fiancée was shown holding their 3-month-old son, Boomer. Boomer was wearing a set of noise-reducing earphones in order to protect his young ears from the noise of the crowd in the stadium.

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Knowledge and attitude of parents/caregivers towards hearing loss and screening in newborns – a systematic review

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Knowledge and attitude of parents/caregivers towards hearing loss and screening in newborns – a systematic review

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Knowledge and attitude of parents/caregivers towards hearing loss and screening in newborns – a systematic review

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