leo meulenbroek 1

1 Hogeschool van Arnhem/Nijmegen, education, Arnhem

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the relation between laryngeal pathology, voice handicap and voice complaints in student teachers.
METHODS: A cross sectional survey was performed among 214 female future teachers using a general questionnaire and the Voice Handicap Index. By laryngostroboscopy the vocal fold mucosal wave and glottal closure were observed at the start of the education.
RESULTS: It was observed that there were significant higher scores of the student teachers with voice complaints at the moment and/or in the past year on the VHI total (p< 0.001), the subtest VHIE (p= 0.017) and VHIP (p< 0.001) compared to the students with no voice complaints. The study showed that the majority of the students with a vocal fold lesion (82%) showed more voice complaints at the moment and/or during the past year than students with no vocal fold lesions (53%)(p=0.010). Students with vocal fold lesions had 4x higher risk of voice complaints (OR 3.9). More student teachers (19%) with a deviant glottal closure had vocal fold lesions compared to students (6%) with a normal glottal closure (p=0.003, OR 3.6). Of the students with both vocal fold lesions and glottal insufficiency 91% reported voice complaints compared to students with no fold lesions and no deviant glottal closure (56%) (p=0.039). Students with a deviant glottal closure did not have a higher VHI score compared to students with normal glottal closure (p= 0.422). Students with a vocal fold lesion did show a higher VHI score compared to student teachers with no vocal fold lesion (p=0.414).
CONCLUSION. The stroboscopic results were reflected in reporting voice complaints, but  surprisingly not in the students expression of voice handicap. It is in a way alarming to see that students with a deviant glottal closure did not apprehend a voice handicap and tended to be unaware. It is of great concern to increase the students awareness in order to prepare these future teachers properly for the vocally demanding profession.
   Key words:  student teachers, vocal folds, laryngeal pathology, voice problems, voice handicap,
 

Annerose Keilmann 1,2 , Esther Schiffer 1,2 , Michael Beck 1,2,3 , Gudrun Schulze Frenking 1,2,3 , Katrin Degenhardt 1,2,3

1 Mainz Medical School, Communication Disorders, Mainz

2 Mainz Medical School, , Mainz

3 , ,

Background: Patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type II typically develop narrowing of the upper airways. In many patients these changes lead to voice disorders, a higher resistance of the airways, and in severe cases to dyspnoea. Intubation can be problematic. To date, there is no universally accepted examination protocol for assessing these alterations.
Objective: To develop a standardized classification for assessing the alterations of larynx and hypo pharynx in MPS patients. Standardization could provide information that would allow assessment of the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).
Methods: We developed a classification protocol in which the alterations of the epiglottis (VO, V1, V2), the false (T0–T4) and the true vocal folds (S0–S2) and the mucosa in the posterior region of the larynx (A0–A4), are described by rigid or flexible endoscopy of the upper airways. Voice quality was quantified using the Göttingen hoarseness diagram. The diadochokinetic rate was determined using Motor speech Profile (Kay). We used this classification in six patients with MPS II before the start of treatment and during ERT.
Results: Quantification of the alterations was possible using videoendoscopy with both rigid and flexible endoscopy, depending on the patient’s needs. Most patients demonstrated a slight hoarseness, but alterations to the vocal folds were not visible in any of the patients. In some patients, there were clinically relevant alterations of the posterior region of the larynx and in the region of the false vocal folds.
Conclusion: Regular monitoring of the above mentioned parameters could provide information about the natural progression of MPS and allow assessment of the efficacy of ERT.

Monique Verguts 1 , Anita Eggermont 1 , Peter Hellings 1 , Felix de Jong 1

1 UZ Leuven, ENT-HN, Leuven

Jitka Vydrova 1 , Jan Svec 1,2 , Frantisek Sram 1,2,3

1 Medical healthcom, otolaryngology and phoniatry, Prague 2

2 Palacky University Olomouc, Laboratory of Biophysicd, Olomouc

3 Medical healthcom, Otolaryngology and phoniatry, Prague 2

Susanna Simberg 1 , Pekka Santtila 1 , Anna Soveri 1 , Markus Varjonen 1 , Eeva Sala 2 , N. Kenneth Sandnabba 1

1 Åbo Akademi University, Logopedics, Turku

2 University Central Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Turku

Berit Schneider-Stickler 1 , Antonia Breiter 1 , Christian Mittermaier 2 , Matthias Leonhard 1 , Wolfgang Gruther 2 , Gobert Skrbensky 3 , Wolfgang Bigenzahn 1

1 Medizinische Universität, Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, klinische Abteilung für Phoniatrie-Logopädie, Wien

2 Medizinische Universität, Universitätsklinik für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Wien

3 Medizinische Universität, Universitätsklinik für Orthopädie, Wien