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Effect of Subglottic Stenosis on Vocal Fold Vibration and Voice Production Using Fluid-Structure-Acoustics
Dariush Bodaghi1, Qian Xue1, Xudong Zheng1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04473, USA.
Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Subglottic stenosis (SGS) significantly impacts voice production only when its severity exceeds critical thresholds, affecting vocal fold vibration and glottal acoustics. The study highlights flow resistance as the key mechanism influenced by SGS severity.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Bioacoustics
- Vocal fold mechanics
Background:
- Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is a narrowing of the airway below the vocal folds.
- Understanding SGS effects on voice production is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies have explored SGS impact, but detailed numerical investigations are ongoing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate the influence of subglottic stenosis (SGS) severity and location on glottal flow, vocal fold vibration, and voice acoustics.
- To identify the thresholds of SGS severity that significantly alter voice production dynamics.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, specifically the role of flow resistance, by which SGS affects voice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 3D fluid-structure-acoustic interaction numerical solver.
- Simulated voice production with varying SGS severity (percentage of area reduction) and location.
- Analyzed parameters including glottal flow rate, vocal fold vibration amplitude and frequency, acoustic measures (e.g., SNR), and aerodynamic parameters (e.g., flow resistance).
Main Results:
- SGS impacts voice production beyond specific severity thresholds: 75% for flow rate and acoustics, 90% for vocal fold vibration.
- Above these thresholds, increased SGS severity led to decreased flow rate, vibration amplitude, and vocal efficiency.
- SGS location had no significant effect; the primary mechanism was increased airway flow resistance, linked to the glottis-to-SGS area ratio.
Conclusions:
- Subglottic stenosis severity, beyond critical thresholds, significantly degrades voice production quality and efficiency.
- The primary mechanism is the increased flow resistance caused by the stenosis, which is dependent on the relative area reduction.
- Numerical simulations provide valuable insights into the complex interactions governing voice production affected by airway pathologies like SGS.
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