LARYNGEAL ADDUCTION IN RESONANT VOICE

The primary question in this study was whether subjects with nodules a nd subjects with healthy larynges would produce ''resonant voice'' wit h a similar laryngeal configuration. A second question regarded whethe r the electroglottographic closed quotient (EGG CQ) could be used to n oninvasively distinguish resonant from other voice types. Twelve adult singers and actors served as subjects, including 6 persons with healt hy larynges and 6 persons with nodules. Performers were used as an att empt to maximize token validity and stability. Subjects produced repea ted tokens of resonant, pressed, normal, and breathy voice during sust ained vowels. Laryngeal adduction was directly estimated using blinded , ordinal, visual-perceptual ratings based on videoscopic views of the larynx. EGG CQs were further calculated based on separate trials. The perceptual ratings indicated that subjects in both groups produced re sonant voice with a barely adducted or barely abducted laryngeal confi guration that was distinct from configurations for pressed and breathy (but not normal) voice. Previous literature suggests that this config uration may be relevant in many cases of voice therapy (1). Average CQ s distinguished resonant from pressed voice, but inconsistently distin guished resonant from breathy voice. Further CQs were reliably differe nt across healthy subjects and subjects with nodules. Thus, the utilit y of this measure to noninvasively estimate resonant voice may be limi ted, particularly without ongoing subject-specific calibration procedu res.