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Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) is a well-known treatment program that consists of four exercises, in which the first and fourth tasks require maximally sustained phonation. However, the active ingredients responsible for treatment efficacy are still unknown. The primary purpose of this investigation was the explore the effects of maximally sustained phonation on the VFE outcome measure of maximum phonation time (MPT) in individuals between the ages of 18-40 with normal voice. Participants were randomized into three experimental groups that completed VFEs for six weeks. The baseline group sustained tasks one and four for as long as was achieved at the baseline session; The three-week group sustained the exercises for as long as possible the first three weeks, then to their three-week MPT average for the remaining three weeks of the program; The standard group maximally sustained phonation for all six weeks. Results indicated significant improvement in percent to MPT goal attainment in the standard group and three-week group. The baseline group did not result in significant change. Including maximally sustained phonation throughout the course of VFEs is essential to producing substantial improvements in voice production, in terms of percent to MPT goal.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to explore the effects of variable doses of home practice Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) on attainment of pre-established maximum phonation time (MPT) goals in individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 with normal voice. A secondary purpose was to monitor for potentially toxic effects of high doses of VFEs. Three experimental groups completed a six-week VFE protocol and practiced twice daily. The low dose group performed each exercise once, the traditional group twice, and the high dose group four times. Results indicated significant change in VFE MPT for all three groups and higher goal attainment in the high dose group. Low doses appear insufficient to produce substantial change in voice production. Acoustic MPT improved most in the traditional dosage group, which also exhibited best maintenance and best overall outcomes. No toxic effects in vocal fold condition or phonation were observed or measured secondary to high VFE exposure.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to explore the effects of varying degrees of vocal tract semi-occlusion in Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) on attainment of pre- established maximum phonation time (MPT) goals in individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 with normal voice. Individuals were randomized into three experimental groups: the traditional VFE with a semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT), modified /o/ with partial occlusion, and modified /a/ without significant occlusion. For six weeks, the participants completed the four exercises two times each, twice daily on corresponding vocal tract postures assigned by group. Results indicated significant change in percent of MPT goal attained for the traditional VFE group. Neither modified vocal tract group resulted in significant change. Decreased occlusion appears insufficient in producing substantial change in voice production despite increased compliance compared to the traditional VFE group.

The evaluation is the first step for any treatments. Therefore, normal parameters are the bases for proper evaluation in any kind of treatments. This study aimed at verifying measures of maximum phonation time (MPT) and vocal acoustic characteristics of 23 children aged 4 to 6.08 years, whose parents had signed a Free Consent Form. The children studied in four schools that agreed to participate in this research by signing an Institutional Authorization Form. The sampling process comprised a questionnaire that was sent to parents, auditory screening and vocal perceptive-auditory assessment, based on an independent evaluation performed by four speech and language pathologists through the use of R.A.S.A.T. scale. Data collection included MPT and voice samples for acoustic analysis through Multidimensional Voice Program (Kay Elemetrics). The results showed that MPT was significantly longer in 6-year-olds than in 4-year-olds; frequency variation was significantly higher in the total sample than at ages five and six. Noise harmonic ratio of the total sample was significantly higher than in fiveyear- olds. As age increased, values of noise harmonic ratio decreased significantly; noise harmonic ratio in 4-year-olds was significantly higher than at ages five and six. As the total mean of amplitude perturbation quotient increased, frequency variation, variation of amplitude and noise harmonic ratio also increased significantly; the same occurred between total mean of noise harmonic ratio and frequency variation. As the total means of amplitude perturbation quotient, frequency perturbation quotient and voice turbulence index increased the mean of soft phonation index decreased significantly. It was concluded that the results of the acoustic parameters and MPT at the age of four years old seem to evidenceimmaturity of the structures and lack of neural-muscular control at that age. / O primeiro passo em qualquer tratamento é a avaliação. Desta forma, parâmetros de normalidade são a base para uma adequada avaliação em qualquer tipo de tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as medidas de tempo máximo de fonação (TMF) e as características vocais acústicas de crianças entre 4:00 e 6:00, de ambos os sexos, estudantes de pré-escolas da rede pública e privada de Porto Alegre/RS. O processo de amostragem contou com questionário enviado aos pais, triagem auditiva, e avaliação perceptivo-auditiva vocal, baseada na avaliação de 4 fonoaudiólogas, por meio da escala R.A.S.A.T. Foram coletados os TMF e da amostra vocal para análise acústica pelo Multidimensional Voice Program (Kay Elementrics). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística por meio dos testes: t de Student, de Spearman, Pearson e Análise de Variância- ANOVA. Os resultados evidenciaram que os TMF foram significativamente maiores aos 6:00, em comparação aos 4:00; a variação de freqüência foi significativamente maior na amostra total do que nas idades de 5:00 e 6:00; a proporção harmônicoruído da amostra total foi significativamente maior do que aos 5:00 anos; e, à medida que a idade aumentou, os valores de proporção harmônico-ruído reduziram significativamente; a proporção harmônico-ruído aos 4:00 foi significativamente maior do que aos 5:00 e 6:00; à medida que a média total do quociente de perturbação de freqüência aumentou, variação de freqüência, variação de amplitude e a proporção hamônico-ruído também aumentaram significativamente; o mesmo ocorreu entre ao média total da proporção harmônico-ruído e da variação de freqüência; à medida que as médias totais do quociente de perturbação de freqüência, do quociente de perturbação de amplitude e do índice de turbulência vocal, aumentaram, a média do índice de fonação suave reduziu significativamente. Como conclusäo, constatou-se que os parâmetros acústicos e dos TMF, na idade de 4:00, parecem evidenciar a imaturidade das estruturas e a falta de controle neuromuscular nessa idade e que o início deste processo de maturacäo, possivelmente, ocorre próximo aos 5:00 e 6:00 de idade.

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