Effects of septoplasty on the acoustic parameters of voice

ObjectivesTo study the effects of nasal septal deviation and the effects of septoplasty on voice using acoustic analysis.Study designProspective case–control study.SettingYenepoya Medical College Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital.MethodsA total of 45 subjects comprising 15 patients (study group) who underwent septoplasty and 30 normal adults (control group) were enrolled into the study. Acoustic analysis of voice was performed on all patients one day prior and one month after surgery. Controls were also subjected to voice analysis.ResultsNasalance was observed to be significantly lower in patients with septal deviation. Postoperatively nasalance scores increased.ConclusionsFindings of this study indicate that nasal obstruction due to septal deviation contributed to hyponasality in voice. Nasalance scores increased in the post operative group suggesting an increase in nasal acoustic energy due to a decrease in nasal airway resistance and an increase in nasal area following corrective surgery on the septum.