Electroglottographic measurements of glottal function in vocal fold paralysis in women

The purpose of the study was to determine how electroglottographic measures change with voice recovery in women with vocal fold palsy compared with healthy speakers, and which coefficient best represents dysphonia. An electroglottograph with speech studio 1.04 software was used to record and analyse the data. Electroglottographic data were collected from 22 female patients and 16 healthy female speakers. Our findings show that the mean values of open quotient (OpQ), closing quotient (ClQ), % Irregularity and contact quotient (Qx) differ between the groups of patients and controls. % Irregularity, Qx and OpQ significantly correlated with the perceptual degree of dysphonia. Electroglottographic recordings can objectify dysphonia in patients with vocal fold palsy. Electroglottography is a suitable non-invasive tool for tracking the patients' long-term progress. % Irregularity best represents the vocal fold dysfunction in patients with a vocal fold palsy.