No description available.

This study attempted to replicate and expand previously published research in order to increase our understanding of how Vocal Function Exercises (VFE) might improve vocal function in normal voices. Measures were made to reflect potential post-treatment changes in acoustic and aerodynamic variables, including a measure of vocal efficiency. The participants of the study included 35 adults with normal voices. Each completed a series of speech tasks (sustained vowels, maximum phonation time, reading of a standardized passage, and repetition of syllable strings) before and after a four-week treatment period. Testing of pre- and post-treatment data revealed no clear improvement in acoustic and aerodynamic measures of the voice. There were also no significant improvements in vocal efficiency following the VFE. These findings suggest the need for further research to better understand the value of VFE in improving vocal function.

This dissertation focuses on the aging voice - specifically the aging elite vocal athlete. It is comprised of four components; a series of research studies and a viewpoint piece designed to explore the awareness, struggles, and vocal compensations of aging singers dealing with age related vocal and performance problems. The overarching goal of these studies is to inform the development of a voice care protocol for the aging rock star to guide customized intervention for these elite vocal athletes that is focused on optimizing both vocal output and performance. First, the dissertation introduces and identifies characteristics of the exceptional voice. This involves a new vocal continuum that includes the normal voice, the trained voice, and the exceptional voice. The second component is a qualitative study of older contemporary commercial music (CCM) singers adjustments and accommodations associated with their aging. From this, four overarching themes are identified: modest self-perception of their vocal prowess and its relationship to performance, acute sensitivity to changes in vocal quality, recognition of the critical association of voice quality with their identity as a performer, and an array of accommodations to aging-related vocal changes. The third component of the dissertation is a randomized control trial examining the efficacy of Vocal Function Exercises as a treatment modality for presbyphonia. Analysis revealed that the experimental group improved in select outcome measures including decreased glottic gap, increased upper range, and maximum phonation time at the 6-week post-treatment re-evaluation with no such changes in the control group. The final study investigated the vocal and performing trajectories of six CCM male singers through analysis of video performances across their career. Singers were shown to make accommodations consistent with the reported findings from component two. Such accommodations include decreased total time singing for some singers, accommodations for range changes, and changes to performance. From this study, the Exceptional Voice Protocol was created to provide a customized vocal and performance blueprint for each artist that meets their unique needs for their exceptional voices. Overall, this research indicates that aging CCM singers appear to be experiencing age and performance related vocal changes and are making detectable accommodations to their performance. Additional findings show that Vocal Function Exercises appear to be an efficacious treatment modality for aging voice. Findings from these studies confirm the need for continued research on age-related vocal and performance changes for these performers and guidelines for appropriate habilitation and rehabilitation so these rock stars can continue performing for as long as they desire.

The main purpose of this study was to consider the effects of amplification and vocal function exercises on the perceived vocal health of elementary music educators (N = 37) from Oklahoma (n = 11) and Texas (n = 26). Participants were assigned to the use of the ChatterVoxTM amplifier or vocal function exercises based on pretest scores on the Voice Handicap Index with Music Teacher Voice Questionnaire (VHI/MVQ). Following the 4-week study period, participants completed the posttest VHI/MVQ. The results of a one-way ANCOVA that used treatment group as the independent variable, the summed posttest scores as the dependent variable, and the summed pretest scores as the covariate or control variable indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the adjusted means for the posttest scores, favoring the exercises group. The overall group and both treatment groups reported frequent loud voice use in work settings and in public places. The overall group and the amplification group reported hoarseness after prolonged talking. The exercises group did not report as great a problem with hoarseness after prolonged talking. Secondary purposes addressed demographic variables. Women perceived greater overall vocal difficulties than men; men frequently reported specific vocal complaints that were not commonly indicated by women. The vocal problems of women may have been associated with loud voice use. The following common vocal complaints of men may have been related to the use of falsetto while teaching: need for vocal rest, worse voices in the evening, dry throats, loss of voice, obvious pitch breaks in their singing voices, pain after singing for an extended time, and limited use of their high range. VHI/MVQ scores indicated that the study participants with 21 to 39 years of teaching experience had more vocal difficulties than other participants and indicated limited use of the low range of their speaking voices, inconsistency in the sound of their voices, dry throats, throat pain after singing for a prolonged time, difficulty singing softly, and the need for vocal rest. Participants with 6 or more years of experience experienced hoarseness after speaking for an extended time.

No description available.

No description available.

Deterioration in voice quality following radiation therapy for the treatment of laryngeal cancers (LC) is well documented in literature. The majority of studies show that these voice problems are long term and in some cases permanent. Deterioration in voice quality, especially over a period of time could lead to significant communication difficulties in daily life or in some cases could even result in loss of profession. Despite the negative effects of radiation therapy on voice quality being well documented, few studies have focused on the efficacy of voice therapy in the irradiated LC population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a well researched, evidence based voice therapy approach, known as Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) in improving vocal function in patients who have been irradiated for LCs. The present study conducted in three systematic stages with distinct and related study aims. The first involved characterizing the head and neck cancer treatment seeking population at the University of Kentucky (UK). Stage 2 involved characterizing vocal function following irradiation for LC using a multidimensional assessment approach. Stage 3 was a phase 2 clinical trial aimed at treating these deficits in vocal function identified through stage 2 using a systematic evidence based voice therapy approach, Vocal Function Exercises. For the phase 2 clinical trial, the comparison group received vocal hygiene (VH) counseling. Observations from stage 1 showed that majority of patients from the treatment seeking population at UK between a 3 year time period from 2008 to 2010 were diagnosed with laryngeal cancers and were treated with chemoradiation therapy. Stage 2 demonstrated a multidimensional deterioration in vocal function following radiation therapy for laryngeal cancers. Stage 3 demonstrated a significant improvement in vocal function across the primary outcome measure (Voice Handicap Index) as a result of VFE+VH. Improvements were also seen in select parameters across the five domains of voice assessment in the VFE group. No significant improvements were observed in the vocal hygiene group in any parameters in each domain of voice assessment. Our study demonstrated adults irradiated for laryngeal cancers demonstrated a multi-dimensional deterioration of vocal function. These changes were long term since study participants were 2- 7 years post radiation therapy. Implementation of VFE+VH demonstrated a significant improvement in voice related quality of life and select parameters across the five domains of voice assessment. The present study demonstrated promising preliminary evidence for the use of VFE+VH to improve vocal function in patients irradiated for laryngeal cancers.

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.

An examination of the historical treatises of Manuel Garcia II and Giambattista Mancini, scientific studies pertaining to glottal closure, and Vocal Function Exercises used in clinical speech pathology led to an exploratory study that attempted to increase the glottal closure in an untrained university male chorus using only choral voice building exercises. The exploratory study used a single group, pre-test post-test design, and data was recorded using audio recordings of the entire chorus as well as electroglottograph measurements of individual subjects. The data show an increase in glottal closure as measured by closed quotient values, and an increase in energy in the upper partials of the recorded acoustic signal from the chorus.

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.