Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5124482 Journal of Voice 2016 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

SummaryObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine how use of the vocal facilitating technique, chewing, affected the phonation of speech-language pathology (SLP) students.Study DesignA pretest-posttest randomized control group design was used.MethodsTwenty-seven healthy female SLP students were randomly assigned into either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group practiced chewing exercises across 18 weeks, whereas the control group received no vocal facilitating techniques. Both groups completed pre- and post- objective voice assessment measures (aerodynamic measurement, acoustic analysis, voice range profile, and Dysphonia Severity Index). Differences between pre- and post-data were compared between the experimental and control group using an independent sample t test.ResultsCompared to the control group, chewing resulted in a significant decrease in jitter and noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR), a significant increase in fundamental frequency (fo), a significant expansion of the voice range profile, and a significant increase in Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI). Shimmer and maximum phonation time (MPT) were not significantly different between groups.ConclusionsThe results of this pilot study suggest that the vocal facilitating technique, chewing, may improve objective vocal measures in healthy female SLP students.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery
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