Evaluation of contact pressure in human vocal folds during phonation using high-speed videoendoscopy, electroglottography, and magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Mechanical stresses on the vocal folds surface during high pitch or amplitude phonation have been postulated to cause vocal fold damage. Models for the quantitative estimate of the contact pressure may be valuable for prevention and treatment. The objective of this study was to non-invasively estimate the contact pressure for different phonation types, frequencies and amplitudes in human subjects using concurrent highspeed videoendoscopy and eletroglottography. The edge velocities before and after contact were estimated from the analysis of consecutive digital images. Instantaneous contact areas were determined from electroglottography along with Magnetic resonance image (MRI). The contact pressure was assessed using the impulse momentum form of Newton's second law. Investigations were carried out in quantitative human subjects to compare contact pressures for three different voice types, frequencies and amplitude levels. Contact pressures for breathy, normal and pressed voice were obtained for five subjects. The results were verified through comparisons with values measured directly using a probe microphone. The proposed method appears to be robust and accurate for contact pressure estimation. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.