The Study of Asymmetric Laryngeal Movements

Ahn, Cheol Min; Moon, Ko Jeong; Chung, Duk Hee

Abstract

BACKMROUND AND ackground and Objectives: Voice is produced by the vibration of the vocal fold mucosa and laryngeal movements affect its vibration. It is speculative that asymmetric laryngeal movements might be the cause of inadequate vibration of the vocal fold mucosa. Using the pharyngogram, authors studied the relation between the asymmetric laryngeal movements and laryngeal nodule in functional voice disorders. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with laryngeal nodule and thirty normal subjects were evaluated. All subjects were evaluated by an acoustic analysis and maximum phonation time. Laryngeal movements were investigated with a laryngostroboscopy. And we investigated the asymmetric movement of larynx and perilarynx using /i/ phonation pharyngogram.
RESULTS
Acoustic analysis and maximum phonation time of the patients with laryngeal nodule were different with that of normal subjects. Asymmetry of arytenoid movements and asymmetry of thyroid cartilage protrudings were more common in patients with laryngeal nodule during the examination of the laryngostroboscopy. Asymmetry of pyriform sinus was more common in the patients with laryngeal nodule in the examination of the /i/ phonation pharyngogram.
CONCLUSION
Laryngeal asymmetry might affect more commonly the vibration of the vocal fold mucosa in the patients with laryngeal nodule.