Oral and vocal fold diadochokinesis in dysphonic women

The evaluation of oral and vocal fold diadochokinesis (DDK) in individuals with voice disorders may contribute to the understanding of factors that affect the balanced vocal production. Scientific studies that make use of this assessment tool support the knowledge advance of this area, reflecting the development of more appropriate therapeutic planning. Objective: To compare the results of oral and vocal fold DDK in dysphonic women and in women without vocal disorders. Material and methods: For this study, 28 voice recordings of women from 19 to 54 years old, diagnosed with dysphonia and submitted to a voice assessment from speech pathologist and otorhinolaryngologist, were used. The control group included 30 nondysphonic women evaluated in prior research from normal adults. The analysis parameters like number and duration of emissions, as well as the regularity of the repetition of syllables "pa", "ta", "ka" and the vowels "a" and "i," were provided by the Advanced Motor Speech Profile program (MSP) Model-5141, version-2.5.2 (KayPentax). The DDK sequence "pataka" was analyzed quantitatively through the Sound Forge 7.0 program, as well as manually with the audio-visual help of sound waves. Average values of oral and vocal fold DDK dysphonic and nondysphonic women were compared using the "t Student" test and were considered significant when p<0.05. Results: The findings showed no significant differences between populations; however, the coefficient of variation of period (CvP) and jitter of period (JittP) average of the "ka," "a" and "i" emissions, respectively, were higher in dysphonic women (CvP=10.42 percent, 12.79 percent, 12.05 percent; JittP=2.05 percent, 6.05 percent, 3.63 percent) compared to the control group (CvP=8.86 percent; 10.95 percent, 11.20 percent; JittP=1.82 percent, 2.98 percent, 3.15 percent). Conclusion: Although the results do not indicate any difficulties in oral and laryngeal motor control in the dysphonic group, the largest instability in vocal fold DDK in the experimental group should be considered, and studies of this ability in individuals with communication disorders must be intensified.

Universitários como sujeitos de pesquisa: aspectos éticos e legais. / University as research subjects: ethical and legal issues.

É indispensável definir os critérios de seleção dos sujeitos que devem compor uma pesquisa, o que interfere diretamente em seus aspectos qualitativos, bem como em sua confiabilidade. Os estudantes universitários geralmente são sujeitos de pesquisa, sendo incluídos, muitas vezes, de maneira não criteriosa. O objetivo desta revisão foi discutir a condição dos estudantes universitários como sujeitos de pesquisa, assim como o papel dos pesquisadores, baseados nos preceitos éticos e legais a eles estabelecidos. Apesar de os agentes da pesquisa possuir conhecimento sobre as normativas da ética, e seguirem os aspectos legais, acabam se distanciando do respeito à autonomia desses sujeitos de pesquisa, bem como negligenciando a defesa de sua vulnerabilidade. Os universitários, por sua vez, agem de maneira passiva, hesitando proceder a questionamentos. A necessidade de diretrizes que protejam esse grupo de participantes mostra-se, portanto, evidente para o desenvolvimento da ciência dentro das universidades.

To define the selection criterions of the subjects who should compose a research is indispensable, because it influences directly in their qualitative aspects, as well as in their confidentiality. The college students are generally the target of the studies, been set, many times, by a no criterion manner. The objective of this article review was to discuss the condition of college students like subjects of research, even as the function of the researchers, based on the ethical and legal precepts established to him. In spite of the research agents have the knowledge of the ethical rules, and follow the legal aspects, they are keen to distance themselves of the respect to the autonomy of the subjects of the research, as well as neglecting the defense of their vulnerability. The college students, on the other hand, act in a passive manner, hesitating questioning. Therefore, the need of guidelines that protect this participant group is clearly showed for the development of the science inside of the universities.