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LEMG Findings of Vocal Fold Paresis in Voice Patients Who Play or Played Wind Instruments
Journal article

LEMG Findings of Vocal Fold Paresis in Voice Patients Who Play or Played Wind Instruments

Valerie Trollinger, Ghiath Alnouri and Robert T. Sataloff
Journal of voice
2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.10.018

Abstract

Dysphonia Laryngeal EMG Professional voice users Singers Vocal fold paresis Wind instrumentalists
In a musical wind instrument, sound is produced by vibration of air, typically created by the player blowing into the instrument. Many researchers believe that wind instrumentalists have vocal and laryngeal problems related to playing their instruments. In this study, wind instrumentalists were defined as those who had a history (1 year or more) of studying a wind instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba, or French horn) at any time in their lives. Laryngeal electromyography (L EMG) had been obtained because vocal fold paresis was suspected clinically. Data analysis indicated that wind instrument players appear to experience greater levels of decreased nerve recruitment than non-instrumentalist singers do who present with paresis. Voice patients who underwent laryngeal EMG for clinically suspected vocal fold paresis between 2019 and 2021 were included in the study. Subjects were divided into two groups depending on history of playing wind instruments. Only patients with insufficient information in their medical records were excluded. All data were reviewed retrospectively. Percentage of nerve recruitment, the recruitment rating scale used in previous studies, wind instrument played, gender, age, and laryngeal Myasthenia Gravis diagnosis were variables included in the descriptive statistics, correlational, and regression analyses used for statistical analysis. Data analysis indicated that in the 103 subjects included (47 wind instrumentalists and 56 non-wind instrumentalists) that wind instrument players, past and present, experience levels of greater decreased nerve recruitment that non-instrumentalist singers do when presenting with paresis. Kind of wind instrument played was statistically significant but moderately correlated to the RRS (Recruitment Rating Scale) of the left PCA. Sex was correlated moderately and statistically significantly with right CT recruitment. Playing wind instruments in voice patients diagnosed with paresis might be associated with increased severity of laryngeal nerve damage. Further research is needed to confirm or refute these findings.

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