Variability of vocal fold vibration obtained from repeated measurements in healthy male subjects based on endoscopic high-speed imaging

Introduction:

For quantitative voice diagnostics, vocal fold dynamics can be examined during the phonation of a sustained vowel using digital high-speed (HS) imaging. The captured vibrational dynamics of the vocal folds allow conclusions about underlying pathological phonation mechanisms. The computer-aided quantification of the complex vibrational dynamics can be realized by so-called phonovibrograms (PVG), which are obtained by segmentation of the HS-videos. Despite long term experience in clinical HS-imaging, there is still a lack of quantitative data about the individual extend of the measurement inaccuracy caused by repeated measurements.

Methods:

In this prospective longitudinal study, a cohort of 5 healthy male subjects (nonsmokers, age ≥18 years) was examined over a period of 3 weeks on 4 different days by means of HS-imaging recorded during sustained phonation. The vocal fold dynamics were quantified using a wavelet-based PVG analysis approach, whereby a total of 40,000 single images were segmented.

Results:

The evaluation of the repeated measurements revealed that the healthy subjects show a reproducible scattering of the parameter values, which represents the extent of temporal perturbation. The vibration modes, however, changed significantly between the repeated recordings.

Conclusions:

Even in presence of highly similar examination conditions the patterns of vocal fold vibrations differ intra-individually between the repeated measurements. For inter-individual definition of normal ranges, perturbation measurements therefore allow a more robust interpretation due to their higher reproducibility between different recordings.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Julia Janker

UKS Homburg HNO Klinik,

Kirrbergerstraße 6, 66424,

Homburg/S.

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)