ASA 125th Meeting Ottawa 1993 May

5aSP3. Laboratory and clinical use of the electroglottograph.

James J. Mahshie

Speech Commun. Lab., Dept. of Audiol. and Speech-Lang. Pathol., Gallaudet Univ., 800 Florida Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002

The electroglottograph is a device that enables monitoring of variations of vocal fold contact by measuring motion induced variations in impedance of neck tissue in the area of the vocal folds. Electroglottography represents one of the few noninvasive methods available for obtaining useful information about the vibratory patterns of the vocal folds. Since its initial description [Fabre, Bull. Acad. Med. (1957)], the electroglottograph has become an increasingly popular clinical and research tool, providing insight into numerous phonatory characteristics including vocal fundamental frequency (f[sub 0]), the extent of vocal fold abduction during phonation, and alterations in laryngeal height during voicing. The purpose of this video presentation is to describe and demonstrate electroglottography, and to examine its use in the clinic and laboratory. The video will: (1) explain the principle of operation of the electroglottograph; (2) demonstrate setup and use of the device; (3) describe attributes of the electroglottograph signal; (4) demonstrate commercially available hardware and software designed to analyze the electroglottograph signal; and (5) describe clinical and research applications of the electroglottograph. The relative strengths and limitations of the device will also be described.