Characteristics of Phonatory Function in Singers and Nonsingers With Vocal Fold Nodules

Abstract

Purpose-The goal of this study was to determine if there were significant differences between singers and non-singers in the morphology of vocal nodules and associated impact on vocal function.Method-Participants were 10 professionally trained singers with nodules, 8 non-singers with nodules, and 10 individuals with healthy normal voice (controls). Surface electromyography (sEMG) from three anterior neck locations and acoustic rise times for vowels /a/ and /i/ were measured in all participants. In individuals with nodules, dB SPL / cm H 2 O, glottal airflow, and nodule location and size were also measured.Results-There were no significant differences between singers and non-singers with nodules in terms of airflow, dB SPL / cm H 2 O, nodule size, or nodule location. In non-singers with nodules, airflow and nodule size were significantly correlated, but were not significantly correlated in singers. Vowel rise times and sEMG during vocal tasks did not differentiate among nodule and control groups. Sternocleidomastoid sEMG during initiation of the vowel /a/ was statistically significantly stronger in non-singers with nodules relative to singers with nodules and controls.Conclusions-Nodule morphology did not differ between singers and non-singers, although some behavioral aspects of phonation differed between the groups.

Effects of Voice Therapy on Relative Fundamental Frequency During Voicing Offset and Onset in Patients With Vocal Hyperfunction

“…However, the presence of laryngeal pathology in patients (e.g., vocal fold nodules) causes glottal insufficiency that can impact aerodynamic measures, regardless of the presence of vocal hyperfunction, making it difficult to differentiate such effects from the separate influence of vocal hyperfunction. Several attempts have been made to correlate surface EMG with vocal hyperfunction, but with conflicting results (Hocevar-Boltezar, Janko, & Zargi, 1998; Redenbaugh & Reich, 1989; Stepp, Heaton, Stadelman-Cohen, Braden, Jetté, & Hillman, In Press). Lack of objective measures for vocal hyperfunction creates an obstacle to effective evaluation of the effectiveness of voice therapy for the treatment of vocal hyperfunction, since the voice therapist has limited ability to reliably detect changes in the degree of vocal hyperfunction present during voice production.…”

Normalization Patterns of the Surface Electromyographic Signal in the Phonation Evaluation

“…[20][21][22][23] These studies, however, do not seem to converge on the best standard to normalize the SEMG signal, that is, by the peak, 20,24-26 mean peak, 22 mean MVC, or MEA. 21,23 In studies on phonation, according to a review addressing the topic, 27 despite the MVC being the most commonly used and most referred standard, studies also do not converge regarding the muscles evaluated, namely, the SH, 6,9,14,16 IH, [5][6][7][8]10 sternocleidomastoid, 11,12,15 and scalene. 5,7,[9][10][11] This lack of consensus limits the comparison between studies and their reproducibility, and also it does not clarify the reasons why muscle reviews do not focus specifically on SH and IH muscles, whose functions, unequivocally, are directly related to phonation.…”

Covert singing in anticipatory auditory imagery

“…Recording sites included the left and right sternohyoid muscles. These are laryngeal muscles that lower laryngeal cartilage and thus play a role in pitch control (Belyk & Brown, 2017;Roubeau, Chevrie-Muller, & Saint Guily, 1997;Stepp, 2012;Stepp et al, 2011;Vilkman, Sonninen, Hurme, & Körkkö, 1996). We elected to record activity at the lip and corrugator (i.e., eyebrow) muscles based on previous EMG studies showing activity at these sites in preparation for singing (Livingstone et al, 2009).…”