Aerodynamic measures of glottal function: what extra can they tell us and how do they guide management?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article will define the major advances in laryngeal aerodynamics research from recent evidence-based literature.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recently published research focuses on new applications of aerodynamic parameters to improve patient diagnosis and outcomes, as well as further elucidating the mechanisms of phonation using computational modeling and excised larynges.

SUMMARY: Although there is an extensive amount of research on improving the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders using aerodynamics, the majority of recent literature lacks any conclusive evidence on new methods for use in the clinic; further research in these is needed. The best practices for resonance tube phonation in water and semi-occluded voice therapy are being investigated, as is the exact mechanism by which glottal airflow interacts with vocal folds to produce phonation. It is recommended that clinicians evaluate patients with Parkinson's disease on the basis of airflow declination and lung volume expended per syllable to avoid dependence on an acoustic signal. In addition, advances in modeling laryngeal disorders and structures will contribute to future research into treatments and diagnosis. Now that the groundwork has been laid, it is crucial to begin evaluating such techniques in patient populations.