Investigation of vocal fold impact stress in human subjects

The primary purpose of the study was to explore a methodology for measuring vocal fold impact stress (SI) in awake humans, and to provide information about the general magnitude of SIs that may occur at the midpoint of the membranous vocal folds during phonation. A secondary purpose was to examine the potential use of the electroglottographic closed quotient (EGG CQ) to indirectly reflect SI. Seven male and 13 female adults were enrolled as subjects, of whom 18 had normal larynges and normal voices, 1 had nodules, and 1 had vocal fold paresis and bowing. Subjects attempted to produce 3 different voice types (pressed, normal, breathy), at 3 different pitches (low, medium, high) and 3 different loudness levels (quiet, medium, loud). For a first set of trials, only EGG data were collected. For a second set, a sensor was also introduced to the midmembranous glottis for the collection of SI data. The primary findings were that (1) endolaryngeal sensor placement was achieved during phonation trials for 17 of 20 subjects; however, grossly consistent anteroposterior positioning was accomplished, and analyzable data were obtained, for only 7 subjects; (2) SIs ranged from less than 1 kPa to about 3 kPa for those 7 subjects; and (3) no relation was detected between simultaneous CQs and SIs for individual data, although a relation was reported in a prior canine study. One possible reason for the failure to show such a relation in the present study was subtle variations in vertical as well as anteroposterior positioning of the sensor during the trials. Future studies should focus on developing a methodology for ensuring invariant 3-dimensional sensor positioning between the membranous folds, so that the stability of both SI and simultaneous CQ data can be improved.