Stroboscopy

 

Since anatomical structures of our vocal fold is unique to each individual, increasingly sophisticated diagnostic and surgical techniques have evolved to more precisely address, improve, alter, or preserve vocal production. Innovative diagnostic tools had een continuously developed to give us an improved understanding of the importance of vocal-fold pliability to voice production.

Videostroboscopy has is now recognized as the most practical and useful technique for the clinical evaluation of the visco-elastic properties of the phonatory mucosa or the vocal folds in general.

What is Stroboscopy?

Stroboscopy is the direct examination of the vocal cords and surrounding structures with the use of a stroboscope. The stroboscope is a metal instrument about as big around as an index finger and ten inches long. It does not go down your throat.

Stroboscopy is basically a special method used to visualize vocal fold vibration. It uses a synchronized, flashing light that passes through a flexible or rigid telescope. The flashes of light from the stroboscope will be synchronized to the vocal fold vibration at a slightly slower speed, allowing  your doctor to observe vocal fold vibration during sound production in what appears to be slow motion. This also allows your doctor to fully visualize any abnormality in your vocal fold function and anatomy.

Note however that the speed of the actual vocal fold vibration is not changed by stroboscopy. This special viewing allows our surgeon, Prof. Kunachak and his team to evaluate each vocal fold's vibration properties during the different phases of the vocal fold's vibration cycle. The information acquired from the stroboscopic examination of the vocal folds is essential for planning voice surgery procedures.

How is Stroboscopy Performed?

The procedure starts by numbing the mouth and throat using spray anesthestic. A microphone, which will pick up the sound of your voice will be clipped to your shirt and you will be asked to hold another microphone on your neck during the procedure. This whole procedure will take roughly about 2-3 minutes only.

 You will be positioned to sit straight up in a chair, leaning a bit forward with the head tilted upwards. You will be asked to stick out your tongue during the procedure while our doctor holds it out in place with a gauze pad. The stroboscope will then be inserted at the back of your mouth then you will be asked to make some sounds, which lets the doctor watch the vocal cords move.

After the procedure, you are instructed not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes, as eating or drinking when the back of your throat is numb could lead to choking or getting something into the trachea or lungs.

Voice Recording and Voice Analysis

            This procedure is usually done with stroboscopy. During this procedure, the patient is asked to read or say a paragraph or words, pronounce a given set of syllables, or sing a song. The sample voices are then digitally recorded using a specially designed microphone at a fixed-designed distance from the mouth.

            The voice samples are then analyzed by a computer program at Yoskarn Clinic. This can be used for voice analysis or for post-operative comparison for people under going voice surgery.