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The aim of this study was to investigate voice function in patients with birch pollen allergy. Voice recordings for acoustic analysis were performed during pollen season and non-pollen season, with 30 patients and 30 controls, and all participants answered a questionnaire about voice symptoms. The results show that the patients reported more voice symptoms than controls during both seasons. In the non-pollen season the symptoms were decreased in the patient group but not in the controls. Speaking fundamental frequency was lower in patients compared to controls during both seasons. The results suggest chronic edema of the vocal folds in the patients. Laryngeal examination with stroboscope was not performed but is recommended for future patients diagnosed with an air-borne allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The stumbling-block in voice therapy is the patient's generalization of the new voice behavior in everyday life. Traditionally voice therapy is based on demonstration, i.e. during the therapy session the speech therapist uses her own voice and body to demonstrate for the patient how to produce voice in different training tasks. During the last decade a new voice therapy strategy, the Verbal Instruction Model (VIM), has been developed by the author. In VIM the speech therapist uses verbal instructions instead of demonstration when conveying the training tasks to the patient. Our clinical experience has shown that VIM seems to help getting over the stumbling-block of generalization. However, evidence for VIM voice therapy outcome remains to be scientifically studied and confirmed. The purpose of this paper is to describe VIM voice therapy and to discuss therapy strategies in the light of motor learning principles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary: Mean fundamental frequency (F 0) values are often used in research on vocal load. In this study, we examine how the mean F 0 differs when evaluated through pronouncing a standard phrase as compared to the mean F 0 obtained in a real work/play environment. We also examine how the F 0 values change throughout the day. The study was performed in a preschool, nine adult female preschool teachers and 11 children participated. The participants wore a digital recorder equipped with an accelerometer, which was attached to the neck. In the study, the participant first pronounced a standard phrase in a controlled environment; thereafter, the voice was recorded in the environment where both children and adults normally reside throughout the day, denoted by the work/play environment. For each participant, the procedure was repeated four times throughout the day. Analyses showed that the F 0 values of the children''s and adult''s voices were significantly higher when recorded in the work/play environment as compared to the controlled environment. The average difference was 36Hz for adults and 24Hz for children. Previous studies have shown an increase of F 0 over the day for teachers. In this study, an increase between morning and afternoon values was found amounting to 8Hz for adults and 24Hz for children. For the child population, this increase was statistically significant. However, the total changes over the day revealed a somewhat more complex scheme, with an increase of F 0 in the morning, a decrease during lunch, and finally an increase in the afternoon. This pattern was verified statistically for the joint child-adult population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]