SOME AERODYNAMIC AND ACOUSTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ACUTE LARYNGITIS

The purpose of the present study was to describe the effects of acute laryngitis on some aerodynamic, acoustic, and perceptual measures. Ele ven subjects with diagnosed acute laryngitis due to upper respiratory infection were recorded during a laryngitic episode and 1 week to 10 d ays after amelioration of the laryngitic condition. Fundamental freque ncy values, collapsed across the five vowels, were significantly reduc ed in the laryngitic compared with the normal speaking condition. The decrease in fundamental frequency associated with acute laryngitis sug gests an increase in the mass of the vocal folds. In addition, aerodyn amic values differed significantly for the laryngitic condition compar ed with the normal speaking condition, suggesting the presence of lary ngeal hypofunction. Perceptual data indicated that speakers in the lar yngitic condition were judged to have a hoarse voice when compared wit h the normal speaking condition.