Tempos máximos de fonação de vogais e capacidade vital em mulheres adultas com nódulos vocais

Abstract

Obtaining measurements of Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) and Vital Capacity (VC) are fundamental in a speech-therapy evaluation since they provide information about neuromuscular and aerodynamic control of a subject s vocal production. Such variables may be altered in subjects who have vocal nodules, a pathology which alters the glottic closure and the pneumo-phono-articulatory coordination. Aim: verify the MPT of vowels, the VC and the possible relationship between them in adult women with vocal nodules. Materials and Methods: database records from a speech therapy school-clinic were used, making up a total of 38 subjects. The inclusion criteria were female adults and otorhinolaryngology diagnosis of vocal nodules. The exclusion criteria were: to have another laryngeal pathology other than the vocal nodules; hearing loss; oral breathing; history of neurological, psychiatric, endocrine or gastric disorders; flu or allergy history; drinking and/or smoking habits; previous speech therapy and/or otorhinolaryngology treatments. Anamnesis data, the otorhinolaryngology diagnosis, and the MPT measurements of vowels /a, i, u/ were collected from the database, as well as the value of the highest vital capacity from all subjects in the sample. MPT evaluation is given by the duration measurement of three emissions of each vowel. The patient is asked to stand and produce such sounds in habitual tone and intensity until the end of exhalation. The highest value of each vowel is then considered. Regarding VC values, the patient is asked to perform six exhalations in the spirometer, after maximal inhalation. Three exhalations are performed with nasal occlusion and three without occlusion, including a rest between them. Finally, the highest out of the six values collected is considered. The results were statiscally analysed at a 5% significance level. The analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U Test, Variables Normality Tests (Lilliefors), Spearman Correlation, Kruskal-Wallis Test. Results: representative age range; representative and within normality VC; less homogeneous MPT and mean, below normality and with a strong positive and meaningful correlation; moderate, positive and meaningful correlation between VC and MPT and the mean. Conclusion: in the presence of vocal nodules in an adult group of women, the Maximum Phonation Times were reduced, the vowel /a/ presented a lower value when compared to the other vowels, and the VC remained within normality, having a moderately positive correlation between both of them.