Do Rare Genetic Conditions Exhibit a Specific Phonotype? A Comprehensive Description of the Vocal Traits Associated with Crisponi/Cold-Induced Sweating Syndrome Type 1.

: Perceptual analysis has highlighted that the voice characteristics of patients with rare congenital genetic syndromes differ from those of normophonic subjects. In this paper, we describe the voice phenotype, also called the phonotype, of patients with Crisponi/cold-induced sweating syndrome type 1 (CS/CISS1). : We conducted an observational study at the Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Rome.

Partial intraoperative signal recovery is associated with normal postoperative vocal cord motility in patients with intraoperative loss of signal.

Loss of signal (LOS) at intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) is defined as an >100 mV amplitude decrease  and a >10% latency reduction and represents a predictor of postoperative impaired vocal cord motility (VCM). We aimed to evaluate if an intraoperative signal recovery (ISR) after LOS may predict a positive outcome of VCM. Among 5884 consecutive intermittent IONM-guided thyroidectomies (April 2021- March 2025) all the patients in whom a LOS was observed were evaluated.

Survey on language rehabilitation methods in deaf Italian children with cochlear implants.

Purpose: To survey the rehabilitation methods of deaf Italian children implanted in two tertiary care referral centers; to investigate on associations between rehabilitation method and patients' clinical features.

Method: Inclusion criteria were age ≤16 years, diagnosis of pre-perilingual bilateral deafness of severe-profound degree, use of cochlear implants (CIs) for at least 8 h a day, ongoing speech therapy. Children's Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) were emailed a questionnaire created for the study purpose and consisting of 39 yes/no questions exploring five fundamental areas of speech and language rehabilitation.

Effects of Early Voice Therapy Intervention Using Non-Phonatory Exercises in Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis After Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: Aim of this study was to verify the effects of early management through non-phonatory exercises aimed at improving glottic closure in patients affected by iatrogenic unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Study Design: randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Between February 2024 and September 2024, 20 patients (15 F, 5 M; mean age 46.

Pitch Discrimination, Music Abilities, and Emotional Speech Perception in School-Aged Children with Cochlear Implant.

Introduction: The objective of the study was to analyze complex auditory skills (music abilities and emotional speech perception) in children with cochlear implant (CI) compared to normal-hearing controls.

Methods: This was a prospective case-control study. A total of 30 controls and 28 children (7-14 years) with congenital severe-to-profound hearing loss (HL) with unilateral or bilateral CI underwent the pitch discrimination test (PDT), the songs identification test (SIT), and the melodies identification test (MIT) to measure music abilities; the speaker and gender discrimination and emotions identification auditory test (SDEIAT) to evaluate socioemotional speech perception.

Subjective visual vertical/horizontal and video head impulse test in dyslexic children.

Different studies have tried to establish a relationship between dyslexia and the vestibular system function. Subjective Visual Vertical/Horizontal (SVV and SVH) and Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) are useful for studying the vestibular system and can be easily performed in children. Our aim was to evaluate the vestibular function in dyslexic children by SVV/SVH and VHIT.

"Lombard Effect" and Voice Changes in Adductor Laryngeal Dystonia: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The aim was to describe the acoustic, auditory-perceptive, and subjective voice changes under the Lombard effect (LE) in adductor laryngeal dystonia (AdLD) patients.

Methods: Subjective perception of vocal effort (OMNI Vocal Effort Scale OMNI-VES), Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), and the perceptual severity of dysphonia (GRBAS scale) were assessed in condition of stillness and under LE in 10 AdLD patients and in 10 patients with typical voice. Speakers were asked to produce the sustained vowel /a/ and to read a phonetically balanced text aloud.

Automatic speaking valve in tracheo-esophageal speech: treatment proposal for a widespread usage.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to calculate the percentage of the Automatic Speaking Valve (ASV) use in a large cohort of laryngectomized patients with voice prosthesis (VP) and to analyze the main reasons for non-use. Subsequently, a specific rehabilitation training was proposed.

Methods: One hundred-ten laryngectomized patients with VP were enrolled in the first phase of the study (census).

Artificial Intelligence Procedure for the Screening of Genetic Syndromes Based on Voice Characteristics.

Perceptual and statistical evidence has highlighted voice characteristics of individuals affected by genetic syndromes that differ from those of normophonic subjects. In this paper, we propose a procedure for systematically collecting such pathological voices and developing AI-based automated tools to support differential diagnosis. Guidelines on the most appropriate recording devices, vocal tasks, and acoustical parameters are provided to simplify, speed up, and make the whole procedure homogeneous and reproducible.

Rehabilitation After Total Laryngectomy: An Integrated Protocol Remotely Delivered During COVID-19.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the results of an integrated treatment delivered remotely to laryngectomized patients with voice prosthesis. Eighteen laryngectomized patients were treated remotely in groups co-led by a speech therapist and a psychologist ("Online Group"). The results were compared with those of 17 patients ("In-Person Group") previously studied.

Artificial intelligence for the recognition of benign lesions of vocal folds from audio recordings.

Objective: The diagnosis of benign lesions of the vocal fold (BLVF) is still challenging. The analysis of the acoustic signals through the implementation of machine learning models can be a viable solution aimed at offering support for clinical diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: In this study, a support vector machine was trained and cross-validated (10-fold cross-validation) using 138 features extracted from the acoustic signals of 418 patients with polyps, nodules, oedema, and cysts.

Combined treatment of muscle tension dysphonia: voice therapy with instrumental postural rehabilitation.

Objectives: This investigation aimed to propose a new rehabilitation technique that combines voice exercises and instrumental postural rehabilitation for patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD).

Methods: We enrolled nine dysphonic patients (8 women and 1 man, aged 22-55 years). Voice assessment included strobovideolaryngoscopy, Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), perceptual evaluation by GRBAS scale and patient's self-rating by Italian version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

Improving Hands-Free Speech Rehabilitation in Laryngectomized Patients with a Moldable Adhesive.

Objective: This study aims to assess the product performance of a new moldable peristomal adhesive with corresponding heating pad designed to facilitate and improve automatic speaking valve (ASV) fixation for hands-free speech in laryngectomized patients.

Methods: Twenty laryngectomized patients, all regular adhesive users with prior ASV experience, were included. Study-specific questionnaires were used for data collection at baseline and after two weeks of moldable adhesive use.

Gender-related differences in the prevalence of voice disorders and awareness of dysphonia.

Objective: Considering the impact of dysphonia on public health and the increasing attention to patient-centred care, we evaluated sex-related differences in the prevalence of benign voice disorders, awareness of dysphonia and voice therapy (VT) results.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-one patients, 129 females and 42 males, with functional or organic benign dysphonia underwent Voice Handicap Index (VHI), auditory-perceptual dysphonia severity scoring (GRBAS) and acoustic analysis (Jitter%, Shimmer%, NHR) before and after VT.

Results: Prevalence of each voice disorder was significantly higher among females.

Multidimensional voice assessment after Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Lee Silvermann Voice Treatment (LSVT) in improving prosody in patients with Parkinson's disease over medium-term follow-up.

Methods: 15 patients with Parkinson's disease were assessed before LSVT, within one week, and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Subjective and objective evaluation included: Voice Handicap Index - 10 (VHI-10), perceptual assessment by GRBAS scale and item 18 of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III), maximum phonation time (MPT /s/) and acoustic analysis by means the Voice Range Profile (VRP) and the "Intonation Stimulability Protocol" of the Motor Speech Profile (MSP).

Voice Telerehabilitation in Iatrogenic Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: From Necessity to Opportunity in the COVID-19 Time.

Objective: To evaluate results of telerehabilitation (TR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic for the treatment of dysphonia caused by permanent post-thyroidectomy unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP).

Methods: Forty subjects with post-thyroidectomy UVFP (onset <1 month) underwent TR. Videostrobolaryngoscopy, acoustic and perceptual voice analysis and patient self-assessment were carried out in person before, at the end of TR and 6 months later.

Optimizing Pulmonary Outcomes After Total Laryngectomy: Crossover Study on New Heat and Moisture Exchangers.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of new devices-heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) and adhesives-on pulmonary symptoms, subject adherence, quality of life, dermatologic symptoms, and patient satisfaction after laryngectomy.

Study Design: Prospective crossover study.

Setting: Between December 2020 and April 2021, 40 patients were enrolled who had undergone laryngectomy, routinely used HMEs and adhesive, and were followed in our Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Speech perception in noise in children with dyslexia: Does speech sound disorder matter?

The aim of this observational cohort study with a control group is to compare consonant perception skills in quiet and in noise in children with typical language and learning development and in children with dyslexia, with and without Speech Sound Disorder (SSD). Three groups were included: A control group of twenty children with normal reading abilities and typical language development, twelve children with dyslexia and typical language development and thirteen children with dyslexia and SSD. All subjects received a consonant recognition test in three different listening conditions (quiet, + 10 and 0 Signal-to-Noise Ratio).

Long-term voice outcomes and quality of life after open partial horizontal laryngectomy type II vs. total laryngectomy: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: We aim to analyse long-term voice outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing open partial horizontal laryngectomy type II (OPHL type II) and to compare them to those obtained by patients undergoing total laryngectomy (TL) with voice prosthesis (VP).

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Setting: Patients undergoing surgery for advanced laryngeal cancer, assessed during the usual follow-up consultations at the Phoniatric Unit (February 2020-December 2020).

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia After Hospitalization for COVID-19 Disease: Our Screening Results.

A high percentage of patients suffered symptoms also after recovery from the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. It is not well clear what are the specific long-term sequelae (complications and symptoms). During the acute phase the patients may develop a multi-organ system pathology including aerodigestive tract.

Neck complaints before and after uncomplicated thyroidectomy: prevalence, postoperative outcome and relationships with thyroid weight and reflux like symptoms.

Purpose: The surgical thyroid disease includes upper aerodigestive complaints with not homogenous prevalence and specific features. The purpose was to analyze before and after total thyroidectomy (TT) the prevalence and severity of voice, swallowing, respiratory, and reflux airway symptoms in relation with thyroid weight.

Methods: A total of 98 consenting patients undergoing TT were enrolled.