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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Hemi-laryngeal Setup for Studying Vocal Fold Vibration in Three Dimensions
Published on: November 25, 2017
Vocal Ergonomics in the Workplace: Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning Method Influences on Vocal Comfort and
Mary J Sandage1, Keith A Rahn1, Audrey G Smith1
1Auburn University, AL.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning method on voice function following a voicing task using ecologically valid offices, one with radiant HVAC and one with forced air.
Method:
A total of 12 consented participants (6 women, 6 men) narrated a video in each of 4 environmental conditions in a within-between repeated-measures design. Acoustic data were collected with an ambulatory phonation monitor and perceived phonatory effort was determined following the voicing task. Data were analyzed using a within-between repeated-measures analysis of variance with significance set at α < .05.
Results:
Perceived phonatory effort did not differ between environments; however, a significant difference in vocal amplitude between 2 trials was identified for the male participants and physiologically significant differences in vocal amplitude were identified for male and female participants.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that perceived phonatory effort may not be a sensitive measure of vocal function differences following a voicing task in ecologically valid office spaces despite significant acoustic findings. Future research should address longer exposure to environmental differences combined with a longer voicing task within ecologically valid work spaces as well as the recruitment of participants who have particular vulnerability to environmental perturbations.
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