Computational Study of the Impact of Dehydration-Induced Vocal Fold Stiffness Changes on Voice Production

Systemic vocal fold dehydration is known to increase vocal fold stiffness, which has been hypothesized to have important effect on voice production. However, it remains unclear whether the dehydration-induced vocal fold stiffness changes can have a noticeable impact on phonation, particularly in normal phonation conditions. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of vocal fold stiffness changes due to vocal fold systemic dehydration and its significance in daily communication.

Parametric computational simulation using a three-dimensional vocal fold model, in which the vocal fold stiffness was varied as a function of systemic dehydration levels based on previously-reported experimental data.

The results showed that systemic dehydration had significant effects on voice production only at high levels of dehydration, at which dehydration increased the phonation threshold pressure and fundamental frequency, and decreased glottal opening area, vocal intensity and glottal efficiency. The effect depended mainly on the overall dehydration level but was also slightly affected by the dehydration distribution and muscular control. However, for dehydration levels typical of normal phonation conditions, the effect was negligible.

The results indicated that dehydration-induced vocal fold stiffness change likely is not an important mechanism through which vocal fold systemic dehydration affects voice production. Nevertheless, a large decrease in glottal efficiency implies a possible perceived increase of vocal effort under a realistic dehydration condition.