Effect of Endotracheal Intubation on Voice.

OBJECTIVES: Following endotracheal intubation (ETI), voice changes can be observed quite frequently. Considering that the pressure that occurs increases as the duration of anesthesia with ETI increases, with the aim to contribute to literature, we realized objective acoustic analysis by grouping patients according to the length of surgical periods. We wanted to investigate both the impact of endotracheal intubation on the voice and how long this impact lasted by performing voice analyzes on the preoperative, postoperative first day and postoperative fifth day. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were examined in three groups comprised of operations lasting less than 60 minutes depending on the operation time (1st group, n = 21), operations lasting between 60-120 minutes (2nd group, n = 21) and operations lasting longer than 120 minutes (3rd group, n = 18). For patients in all three groups, preoperative, postoperative first day and postoperative fifth day voice analyzes have been performed and compared statistically. RESULTS: With the evaluation made on the postoperative first day, it was found that the jitter%, shimmer% and shimmer dB values increased significantly as the operation time increased and it was observed that the HNR values decreased significantly (for jitter% P = 0,008, for shimmer% P = 0,027, for shimmer dB P = 0,025, for HNR P = 0,028). There was no significant difference between the postoperative first day F0 values and postoperative fifth day F0, jitter%, shimmer%, shimmer dB and HNR values in all three groups. CONCLUSION: It is possible to state that ETI makes changes in the voice in the early period, but the changes are normalized in the long term. However, multidisciplinary studies with larger patient groups are needed for more precise and clear judgments.

The Effect of Electronic Cigarettes on Voice Quality.

OBJECTIVES: Cigarette-associated diseases have frequently been detected in the field of otolaryngology. Cigarettes can cause changes in voice performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of e-cigarettes on voice performance compared with conventional cigarettes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included 81 healthy volunteers. To provide standardization, all patients were men. The patients were divided into three groups: e-cigarette users (group 1, n = 21), conventional cigarette users (group 2, n = 30), and nonsmokers who had never smoked (group 3, n = 30). The subjective and objective voice analyses were performed for all the three groups in the study. F0, jitter %, shimmer %, shimmer dB, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) values, and Voice Handicap Index 10 were statistically compared between all groups. RESULTS: The mean Voice Handicap Index 10 values of the conventional cigarette users were higher than those of the e-cigarette users and control group. No significant difference regarding the F0, jitter, and shimmer percentage values between the groups was detected; however, a significant difference was detected regarding the shimmer dB and HNR values between the groups. The mean shimmer dB values of the conventional cigarette group were higher than those of the control group and electronic cigarette users, but the mean HNR values were lower than those of the control group and electronic cigarette users. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of e-cigarettes on voice were detected as mild compared with conventional cigarettes, according to the subjective and objective voice analysis results in our study.

The ageing voice and voice therapy in geriatrics.

BACKGROUND: Although voice therapy is commonly used as an initial treatment for geriatric dysphonia, its role in the treatment for different organic voice disorder is less defined. AIMS: The goal of this study was to investigate dysphonia and therapy modalities in this cohort. METHODS: This study analyzes the demographics, Voice Handicap Index questionnaires, and acoustic voice measures including fundamental frequency, jitter and shimmer by using Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab Multidimensional voice program which were obtained in all patients before and after treatment. A total of 91 (55 men and 36 women) patients with voice complaints, age ranging from 50 to 91 years (mean 64.11 ± 7.2) diagnosed of any vocal fold pathology were made via strobovideolaryngoscopy. RESULTS: Vocal nodules in 23.9 % (N = 22) was the most common diagnosis associated with the voice complaints, followed by laryngopharyngeal reflux in 10.8 % (N = 10) and paresis in 9.78 % (N = 9). VHI scores varied greatly, ranging from 4 to 92, with an average score of 42.7. Multidimensional voice program scores showed that fundamental frequency (F0) tends to rise as a function of age in men (mean 283.66 ± 23.7). DISCUSSION: Fundamental frequency perturbation may be affected in ageing, both genders same values detected. Of these patients, 80 % received hygienic voice therapy and % 20 symptomatic voice therapies. This study identified fundamental frequency alteration for ageing voice and dysphonia in all elderly patients presenting with voice complaints. CONCLUSION: Additional research is needed to determine normative values for multidimensional voice program scores and other assessments in the elderly population.

Short-term results of Neurelec Digisonic SP cochlear implantation in prelingually deafened children.

This paper examines the reports on the selection criteria and the post-operative performance of 25 children implanted with the Neurelec Digisonic SP. This study reported benefits from Neurelec Digisonic SP cochlear implant in auditory and speech perception outcomes. There has been a lack of studies into the additional factors such as level of the mothers' education and bilingualism, which is a factor that may have a significant effect on the success of cochlear implantation. This paper examines the reports on the reasons for the differences in performance and the post-operative performance of 25 children implanted with the Neurelec Digisonic SP. Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale and Meaningful Use of Speech Scale questionnaires were used just before 3, 6, 12, and 18 months following implantation. Electrode array was inserted without difficulty in all cases, with no complications to date. This is a retrospective and cross-sectional study and all the data were collected between March 2010 and December 2012. Auditory performance improved over time for up to 12 months after implantation. Our experience indicates that the Neurelec Digisonic SP cochlear implant system in children under the age of two is relatively safe and reliable. The Neurelec Digisonic SP device surgery can be performed without complications. Auditory performance results support the effectiveness of early implantation. These important findings further support the importance of professionals working very closely with parents or especially mothers and enhancing their involvement in achieving therapy goals to develop auditory skills and speech in young children following cochlear implantation.