VOICE RANGE IN SUPERIOR LARYNGEAL NERVE PARESIS AND PARALYSIS

Evaluation of Physiologic Frequency Range (PFR) and Musical Frequency Range (MRP) of Phonation was performed on 56 adults (singers and nonsi ngers) presenting with superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) paresis or paral ysis confirmed by laryngeal electromyography. The most common etiology was neuritis (69.7%), followed by iatrogenic and unknown causes,each accounting for 10.2 % of cases, and finally trauma (8.9%). Both female and male singers with SLN paresis or paralysis had significantly high er PFR and MPR than nonsingers, Female classical singers presented PFR and MPR of up to 10 semitones (ST) higher than nonclassical singers a nd nonsingers. The lowest PFR and musical ranges were found in patient s with SLN paresis associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis o r paralysis. The authors suggest that voice range measurement is a use ful parameter for analyzing the effects of SLN paresis or paralysis on voice and that it may also assist in measuring outcome following voic e therapy.