Summary
Introduction
Semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTEs) can involve a single source of vibration
(eg, vocal folds in the straw exercise) or a dual source of vibration (eg, vocal folds
and water bubbling in tube phonation) in the vocal tract. Oftentimes, this secondary
source of vibration causes large oscillations in intraoral pressure and has been likened
to a "massage effect." This study assesses the implementation of a positive expiratory
pressure device (Acapella Choice) as a possible alternative SOVTE, which presents
a secondary source of vibration without the need of a water container.
Methods
Twenty-two normophonic participants underwent acoustic, electroglottographic, and
aerodynamic assessment before, during, and after phonation with two different established
SOTVEs (silicone tube in water and straw in air) in addition to Acapella Choice.
Results
Acapella Choice produced the largest peak-to-peak amplitudes of intraoral pressure
oscillation. Straw in air produced the largest static intraoral pressure. Straw in
air and Acapella Choice presented significantly larger ranges of static pressures
than tube in water phonation. Post-exercise condition showed a statistically larger
sound pressure level for Acapella Choice.
Conclusions
Positive expiratory pressure devices, such as Acapella Choice, may be a promising
alternative to established SOVTEs as it promotes large oscillatory pressures in the
vocal tract without the need for a water container. This exercise also produces larger
sound pressure level with no significant changes in glottic contact quotient, indicating
improved vocal economy.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 26, 2018
Accepted:
September 24,
2018
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Funding: Smith's Medical International Ltd. supplied Acapella Choice devices and funding to support conduct of this research. Neither Smith's Medical International Ltd. nor University College London (as sponsor) had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
