Audiology by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis: 03/04/17

Σάββατο 4 Μαρτίου 2017

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Curbing—The Metallic Mode In-between

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Mathias Aaen Thuesen, Julian McGlashan, Cathrine Sadolin
ObjectivesThis study aims to study the categorization Curbing from the pedagogical method Complete Vocal Technique as a reduced metallic mode compared with the full metallic modes Overdrive and Edge by means of audio perception, laryngostroboscopic imaging, acoustics, long-term average spectrum (LTAS), and electroglottography (EGG).MethodsTwenty singers were recorded singing sustained vowels in a restrained character known as Curbing. Two studies were performed: (1) laryngostroboscopic examination using a videonasoendoscopic camera system and the Laryngostrobe program; and (2) simultaneous recording of EGG and acoustic signals using Speech Studio. Images were analyzed based on consensus agreement. Statistical analysis of acoustic, LTAS, and EGG parameters was undertaken using Student paired t tests.ResultsThe reduced metallic singing mode Curbing has an identifiable laryngeal gesture. Curbing has a more open setting than Overdrive and Edge, with high visibility of the vocal folds, and the false folds giving a rectangular appearance. LTAS showed statistically significant differences between Curbing and the full metallic modes, with less energy across all spectra, yielding a high second and a low third harmonic. Statistically significant differences were identified on Max Qx, Average Qx, Shimmer+, Shimmer−, Shimmer dB, normalized noise energy, cepstral peak prominence, harmonics-to-noise ratio, and mean sound pressure level (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionCurbing as a voice production strategy is statistically significantly different from Overdrive and Edge, and can be categorized based on audio perception. This study demonstrates consistently different laryngeal gestures between Curbing and Overdrive and Edge, with high corresponding differences in LTAS, EGG and acoustic measures.

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Vocal Fold Vibration Following Surgical Intervention in Three Vocal Pathologies: A Preliminary Study

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Wenli Chen, Peak Woo, Thomas Murry
High-speed videoendoscopy captures the cycle-to-cycle vibratory motion of each individual vocal fold in normal and severely disordered phonation. Therefore, it provides a direct method to examine the specific vibratory changes following vocal fold surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the vocal fold vibratory pattern changes in the surgically treated pathologic vocal fold and the contralateral vocal fold in three vocal pathologies: vocal polyp (n = 3), paresis or paralysis (n = 3), and scar (n = 3). Digital kymography was used to extract high-speed kymographic vocal fold images at the mid-membranous region of the vocal fold. Spectral analysis was subsequently applied to the digital kymography to quantify the cycle-to-cycle movements of each vocal fold, expressed as a spectrum. Surgical modification resulted in significantly improved spectral power of the treated pathologic vocal fold. Furthermore, the contralateral vocal fold also presented with improved spectral power irrespective of vocal pathology. In comparison with normal vocal fold spectrum, postsurgical vocal fold vibrations continued to demonstrate decreased vibratory amplitude in both vocal folds.

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Responses of Middle-Frequency Modulations in Vocal Fundamental Frequency to Different Vocal Intensities and Auditory Feedback

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Shao-Hsuan Lee, Tuan-Jen Fang, Jen-Fang Yu, Guo-She Lee
Objectives and BackgroundAuditory feedback can make reflexive responses on sustained vocalizations. Among them, the middle-frequency power of F0 (MFP) may provide a sensitive index to access the subtle changes in different auditory feedback conditions.Materials and MethodsPhonatory airflow temperature was obtained from 20 healthy adults at two vocal intensity ranges under four auditory feedback conditions: (1) natural auditory feedback (NO); (2) binaural speech noise masking (SN); (3) bone-conducted feedback of self-generated voice (BAF); and (4) SN and BAF simultaneously. The modulations of F0 in low-frequency (0.2 Hz–3 Hz), middle-frequency (3 Hz–8 Hz), and high-frequency (8 Hz–25 Hz) bands were acquired using power spectral analysis of F0. Acoustic and aerodynamic analyses were used to acquire vocal intensity, maximum phonation time (MPT), phonatory airflow, and MFP-based vocal efficiency (MBVE).ResultsSN and high vocal intensity decreased MFP and raised MBVE and MPT significantly. BAF showed no effect on MFP but significantly lowered MBVE. Moreover, BAF significantly increased the perception of voice feedback and the sensation of vocal effort.ConclusionsAltered auditory feedback significantly changed the middle-frequency modulations of F0. MFP and MBVE could well detect these subtle responses of audio-vocal feedback.

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Technical Standards and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Medical School Applicants and Students: Interrogating Sensory Capacity and Practice Capacity.

https:--rapidsubmission.cadmus.com-virtu

Technical Standards and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Medical School Applicants and Students: Interrogating Sensory Capacity and Practice Capacity.

AMA J Ethics. 2016 Oct 01;18(10):1050-1059

Authors: Argenyi M

Abstract
Applicants to medical schools who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHoH) or who have other disabilities face significant barriers to medical school admission. One commonly cited barrier to admission is medical schools' technical standards (TS) for admission, advancement, and graduation. Ethical values of diversity and equity support altering the technical standards to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. Incorporating these values into admissions, advancement, and graduation considerations for DHoH and other students with disabilities can contribute to the physician workforce being more representative of the diverse patients it serves and better able to care for them.

PMID: 27780030 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Gene Therapy Restores Balance and Auditory Functions in a Mouse Model of Usher Syndrome.

Gene Therapy Restores Balance and Auditory Functions in a Mouse Model of Usher Syndrome.

Mol Ther. 2017 Feb 18;:

Authors: Isgrig K, Shteamer JW, Belyantseva IA, Drummond MC, Fitzgerald TS, Vijayakumar S, Jones SM, Griffith AJ, Friedman TB, Cunningham LL, Chien WW

Abstract
Dizziness and hearing loss are among the most common disabilities. Many forms of hereditary balance and hearing disorders are caused by abnormal development of stereocilia, mechanosensory organelles on the apical surface of hair cells in the inner ear. The deaf whirler mouse, a model of human Usher syndrome (manifested by hearing loss, dizziness, and blindness), has a recessive mutation in the whirlin gene, which renders hair cell stereocilia short and dysfunctional. In this study, wild-type whirlin cDNA was delivered to the inner ears of neonatal whirler mice using adeno-associated virus serotype 2/8 (AAV8-whirlin) by injection into the posterior semicircular canal. Unilateral whirlin gene therapy injection was able to restore balance function as well as improve hearing in whirler mice for at least 4 months. Our data indicate that gene therapy is likely to become a treatment option for hereditary disorders of balance and hearing.

PMID: 28254438 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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