AN ASSESSMENT OF THE REPRODUCIBILITY OF COMBINED GLOTTOGRAPHY IN A CLINICAL SETTING

Although combined glottography has potential as a clinical tool, it ha s had limited use in the monitoring of laryngeal function before and a fter treatment. There is no data about the standardization nor reprodu cibility of the procedure. An indication of the reproducibility of com bined glottography is paramount if changes in laryngeal function are t o be measured accurately. Using a standardized technique, two complime ntary studies examined the reproducibility of combined glottography wi thin one sitting (Study 1) and over time (Study 2). The components of variance were analysed (ANOVA). In Study 1 the variance under controll ed conditions for Open Quotient (OQ) and Speed Quotient (SQ) was only 13% and 18% respectively of the total, whilst in Study 2 the variance over time for OQ and SQ was 55% and 58% respectively. Under controlled conditions combined glottography is a reproducible technique.