ABSTRACT
Perceptual voice evaluation is a common clinical tool for rating the severity of vocal quality impairment. It has been used in research as a gold standard for comparison with acoustic and aerodynamics measurements. Nevertheless, it has disadvantages in the form of being time‑consuming, a group of raters is needed and last but not the least it is a subjective manner of evaluation. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability is an important issue in perceptual evaluations. Different perceptual scales have been developed to describe the quality of a patient’s voice but none is internationally accepted. Although not entirely comprehensive, perceptual evaluations will be used as a standard against which other measures will be evaluated. Data were collected by conducting a computer‑aided search of the MED‑LINE and PUBMED databases, supplemented by hand searches of key journals. More than 50 articles in the last three decades on the topic have been reviewed out of which approximately 31 were found to be relevant to this article.
ABSTRACT
Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has impact on the physical, psychological and social aspects of the patients’ life and work. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the treatment options for AR. Objective: This randomized, open label, prospective, two arm, comparative, multicentric study evaluated the efficacy and safety of montelukast 10 mg + fexofenadine 120 mg (MF) fixed dose combination (FDC) versus montelukast 10 mg + levocetirizine 5 mg (ML) FDC in subjects with AR. Materials and methods: The adult subjects were randomized to either treatment: ML (n = 62), MF (n = 56), administered once-daily for 14 days. The primary endpoint was the change in total symptom score (TSS) (the sum of total nasal symptom score [TNSS]) and total ocular symptom score (TOSS]) at the end of study as compared to baseline. The secondary endpoints were TNSS and TOSS: At the end of study as compared to baseline, physician’s and patient’s global assessment for efficacy and tolerability and adverse events. Results: Both groups were comparable with respect to demographic characters and vital parameters. In MF group, the reduction in TSS at the end of study was 93.86% as compared to 87.71% in ML. The changes in TNSS and TOSS at the end of study were 92.52% and 95.34% in MF group as compared to 85.58% and 92.23% in ML group. Global impression by investigator showed 53.23% subjects rated excellent to very good with MF as compared to 36.36% subjects with ML. Global impression by subjects showed excellent to very good rating for 50% subjects with MF and for 34.54% subjects with ML. Conclusions: Montelukast + fexofenadine showed better improvement in symptoms of AR and a better global impression by both investigators and subjects compared to montelukast + levocetirizine.
ABSTRACT
Despite advances in conservative laryngeal surgery and radiotherapy, total laryngectomy still remains the procedure of choice for advanced-stage (UICC T3 and T4) laryngeal carcinoma, around the world. The functional rehabilitation of the laryngectomized patients has been a concern of head and neck surgeons and speech therapists. Significant developments in speech rehabilitation over the past three decades have led to substantial improvements in the quality of life of these patients. The tracheoesophageal (TE) voice prosthesis has become the gold standard in various centers for voice rehabilitation since its introduction in 1980. Successful tracheoesophageal voice restoration in laryngectomy patients can be very rewarding and patients no longer have to live in silence while they await the results of their cancer treatments. They can face the challenges of life with the knowledge that a near normal quality of life is very much possible.In this article, we present a brief review of voice restoration following laryngectomy.