Airflow study of pathologic larynges using a constant temperature anemometer: further experience

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Vocal fold vibration is crucial for phonation.
• Assessing vocal fold function in laryngeal diseases is important for diagnosis and treatment.
• Phonatory airflow parameters can offer insights into vocal fold dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of phonatory airflow, specifically the AC/DC percentage, in differentiating laryngeal disease patients from normal subjects.
• To explore whether the AC/DC percentage can reflect the vibrational capacity of the vocal cords in different pathological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Phonatory airflow was measured using a constant temperature anemometer.
• Isshiki's AC/DC percentage parameter was calculated for all subjects.
• Data were collected from 361 patients with various laryngeal diseases and 59 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• The AC/DC percentage values were significantly lower in patients with laryngeal diseases compared to the normal group.
• Distinct differences in AC/DC percentage values were observed among different types of laryngeal diseases.
• Lower AC/DC percentages correlated with impaired vocal fold vibration.

Conclusions:

• The AC/DC percentage is a sensitive indicator of phonatory airflow abnormalities in laryngeal diseases.
• This parameter shows potential for assessing vocal cord vibrational capacity and differentiating pathological conditions.
• Phonatory airflow measurement offers a valuable, non-invasive tool for laryngeal function evaluation.