[Evaluation the velocity of vocal fold movements in adults by duplex Doppler scanning]

To evaluate the velocity of vocal fold movements by duplex Doppler scanning in adults during breathing, talking and phonation.

Twenty healthy volunteers (18 women and 2 men) without of voice problems were investigated with scanners Logic-7 or Aloka 1100 by the linear transducer 7-10 MHz. The thyroid cartilage was used as an acoustic window. The dependence between the vocal fold velocity and volume and pitch of the voice were estimated using Spearman correlation.

The velocity of movements of the vocal folds during breathing was from 5 to 16 cm/s, during talking and phonation - from 9 to 110 cm/s. Coefficient of Spearman correlation between the voice pitch and the vocal fold velocity was +0.9±0.1 an average, between volume of the voice and the vocal fold velocity was - 0.7±0.1.

Duplex Doppler ultrasound scanning of the larynx allows measuring the velocity of vocal fold's movements during breathing, conversation and phonation. The fold's velocity increases with increasing of the voice volume and decreases with increasing the voice pitch. Duplex Doppler ultrasound scanning may be useful for early detection of disorders of mobility of the vocal folds.