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Objective: The aim of this work is to study the hitherto unclear aerodynamic parameters of the pseudo-glottis following total laryngectomy. These parameters include airflow rate, sub-pseudo-glottic pressure (SubPsG), efficiency and resistance, as well as sound pressure level (SPL). Patients and Methods: Eighteen male patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, with an age range from 54 to 72 years, were investigated in this study. All tested patients were fluent esophageal ‘voice’ speakers utilizing tracheo-esophageal prosthesis. The airflow rate, SubPsG and SPL were measured. Results: The results showed that the mean value of the airflow rate was 53 ml/s, the SubPsG pressure was 13 cm H₂O, while the SPL was 66 dB. The normative data obtained from the true glottis in healthy age-matched subjects are 89 ml/s, 7.9 cm H₂O and 70 dB, respectively. Other aerodynamic indices were calculated and compared to the data obtained from the true glottis. Conclusion: Such a comparison of the pseudo-glottic aerodynamic data to the data of the true glottis gives an insight into the mechanism of action of the pseudo-glottis. The data obtained suggests possible clinical applications in pseudo-voice training.

The study aim was to understand the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study was an online-based, cross-sectional survey during July and August 2020. Participants were eligible from the entire country, and 1290 agreed to participate. The majority of HCWs were females aged 30–39 years old, working as nurses, and 80% considered PPE to be available. Twelve percent of respondents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Half of HCWs considered themselves physically tired (52.2%), reported musculoskeletal pain or discomfort (54.2%), and perceived moderate-to-high levels of burnout on at least one of three burnout domains (52.8%). A quarter of HCWs reported anxiety (26.3%) or depression (28.1%). HCWs reporting not having musculoskeletal pain, having performed physical activity, and higher scores of available PPE reported lower scores of anxiety, depression, and burnout. UAE HCWs experienced more access to PPE and less anxiety, depression, and burnout compared with HCWs in other countries. Study findings can be used by healthcare organizations and policymakers to ensure adequate measures are implemented to maximize the health and wellbeing of HCWs during the current COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Phonological development is a dynamic process that operates on three levels: universal development, specific language development, and specific child development. An intricate relationship between the three factors delineates the course of acquisition of each child’s phonemic inventory. This study is designed to investigate the phonemic inventory and the phonological processes used by Arabic Egyptian children in order to evaluate cross-linguistic similarities and differences. Thirty Egyptian children with Cairene dialect, in the age period between 12 and 30 months, were included and divided into three groups, each covering a 6-month interval. A 1-hour tape recording for each child was done, followed by analysis of the phonemic inventory and phonological processes. Phonemic inventories showed universal similarities, with frequent occurrence of stops, nasals, and glides mostly in the form of bilabial and alveolar sounds. This is besides a specific tendency for early frequent production of laryngeal phonemes. Glottal replacement was found to be a common and naturally occurring phonological process, leading to frequent occurrence of glottal stop /U/ in the inventories of Egyptian children. The final position of the word showed the highest degree of correct phoneme production.

Proper assessment of patients with velopharyngeal valve incompetence is a mandatory prerequisite for optimal management. The protocol of assessment of Ain Shams University, Phoniatric Department, uses three levels of assessment of velopharyngeal valve incompetence according to the complexity of the armamentarium used. This allows application of those parts of the protocol that suit the needs of the different socioeconomic levels and geographical locations. Firstly, the elementary diagnostic procedures, which are rather simple, noninvasive, but essentially subjective. Despite the clinical feasibility of these procedures, documentation of the data is made utilizing the tools at the second level of assessment in that protocol (clinical diagnostic aids). This level comprises video-nasofiberscopy and high fidelity voice recording. An attempt to extract quasi-quantitative measures from the hitherto qualitative video-nasofiberscopy is made. The third level of assessment, namely additional instrumental measures, comprises CT scanning of the velopharyngeal port, aerodynamics, and acoustic analysis. The results of the three levels of the protocol are presented. Their significance and clinical efficacy are discussed. Some community-related problems that have faced the cleft palate team are outlined. Their sociocultural significance in a developing country is discussed.

Most scholars, old and modern, agree that the vowel system of the Arabic language is composed of 3 vowels only, namely /i/, /Ε/ and /u/. The spoken Cairo dialect suggests that there are 6 identifiable vowels, with a short and long variant for each. Objective: The aim of this study is to test the validity of the notion that there are 6 × 2 distinct vowels, with a more central one. Subjects and Methods: Spectral analysis was used to measure F₁ and F₂ for the vowels of 14 real words. Data was collected from 60 healthy adult informants, 30 males and 30 females. They were native Egyptians speaking the colloquial Cairene dialect. Results: The values of the 6 long and short vowels plus the central one are presented. A significant difference was found between each of them. The long and short vowels differed only in the duration but did not differ in their formant values. Conclusion: The study illustrates the distinctive features of the vowels of the Arabic language. Each of the 7 vowels represents a distinct entity. This will have important implications in assessment and management of language, speech and voice disorders in children and adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to standardize an Egyptian Arabic Pragmatic Language Test (EAPLT) using linguistically and socially suitable questions and pictures in order to be able to address specific deficits in this language domain. Participants and Methods: Questions and pictures were designed for the EAPLT to assess 3 pragmatic language subsets: pragmatic skills, functions, and factors. Ten expert phoniatricians were asked to review the EAPLT and complete a questionnaire to assess the validity of the test items. The EAPLT was applied in 120 typically developing Arabic-speaking Egyptian children (64 females and 56 males) randomly selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria in the age range between 2 years, 1 month, 1 day and 9 years, 12 months, 31 days. Children’s scores were used to calculate the means and standard deviations and the 5th and 95th percentiles to determine the age of the pragmatic skills acquisition. Results: All experts have mostly agreed that the EAPLT gives a general idea about children’s pragmatic language development. Test-retest reliability analysis proved the high reliability and internal consistency of the EAPLT subsets. A statistically significant correlation was found between the test subsets and age. Conclusion: The EAPLT is a valid and reliable Egyptian Arabic test that can be applied in order to detect a pragmatic language delay.

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