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Published on: December 13, 2017
Voice tremor: what we know and what we do not know
Patricia Gillivan-Murphy1, Nick Miller
1Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Summary
Evaluating voice tremor requires more than just listening. Combining acoustic analysis and fibreoptic nasolaryngoscopic examination of the pharynx and larynx improves diagnosis of neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Acoustic Analysis
Background:
- Voice tremor is a common symptom in various neurological disorders.
- Traditional auditory-perceptual evaluation has limitations in identifying tremor sources.
- Advances necessitate integrated approaches for comprehensive voice tremor assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in understanding voice tremor.
- To advocate for multimodal evaluation methods beyond auditory-perceptual assessment.
- To highlight the contribution of multiple speech mechanism sites to perceived tremor.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on voice tremor evaluation.
- Integration of acoustic analysis for tremor quantification.
- Inclusion of fibreoptic nasolaryngoscopic examination for anatomical site assessment.
Main Results:
- Focusing solely on the speech signal is insufficient for identifying tremor origins.
- Pharyngeal and laryngeal structures significantly contribute to perceived voice tremor.
- Acoustic measures and fibreoptic nasolaryngoscopy aid in quantifying and localizing tremor.
Conclusions:
- A combined approach using sustained phonation, fibreoptic nasolaryngoscopy, and acoustic analysis is recommended.
- This multimodal strategy enhances clinical identification, quantification, and characterization of voice tremor.
- Understanding the interplay of speech mechanism oscillations is crucial for advancing voice tremor research.
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