Varying Supraglottic Pressure Using Controlled Supraglottic Pressure Phonation with a Straw-Shaped Mouthpiece in Healthy Subjects.
Katerina A Smereka, Adriana M Nickels, Owen P Wischhoff and 2 others
PMID 39153894WHAT IT FOUND
Controlled supraglottic pressure with a straw mouthpiece did not significantly reduce phonation threshold pressure across groups.
No short-task effect appeared; only 2 cm H2O during the long task showed a significant result.
Key findings
01The short-duration task showed no statistically significant change in phonation threshold pressure for the control, 2 cm H2O, 4 cm H2O, or 6 cm H2O groups.
02The long-duration task showed a statistically significant paired-test result for the 2 cm H2O group.
03Comparing change in phonation threshold pressure across groups was not significant for either the short-duration or long-duration task.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
All participants were healthy human subjects without self-reported vocal tract disorders, asthma, floppy epiglottis, dysphonia, or smoking, so the study does not show what happens in people with voice problems. Six participants were excluded after data collection because of technical errors, and the final groups contained 6, 6, 7, and 7 people. Sound pressure level was not controlled beyond a subjective comfortable level, and one very low PTP value was linked to low sound pressure. The main outcomes were laboratory aerodynamic and acoustic measures plus short discomfort ratings, not functional voice outcomes in patients. The between-group comparisons of PTP change were not significant, so the long-task result at 2 cm H2O should not be read as a confirmed pressure effect. The straw mouthpiece shape and diameter may affect airflow and PTP, and the authors note this needs future investigation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that adding controlled supraglottic pressure to straw phonation is an effective voice therapy. The between-group tests were not significant, the short task showed no effect, and the long-task finding was only a significant paired-test result at 2 cm H2O in healthy people.