High-speed laryngeal imaging compared with videostroboscopy in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To describe normal vocal fold vibratory characteristics recorded with high-speed digital imaging (HSV) of the larynx.

DESIGN: Prospective study of healthy subjects who volunteered to undergo laryngeal HSV and videostroboscopy. Image analysis was randomly assigned to 3 blinded raters.

SETTING: Community-based clinic with a specialty in laryngology.

PARTICIPANTS: Fifty healthy subjects aged 21 to 65 years who were nonsmokers and who had no voice problems, laryngopharyngeal reflux, or reactive airway disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following characteristics of vibration were described: glottal configuration, phase closure, vibratory symmetry, mucosal wave propagation, amplitude of vibration, and periodicity of vibration. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were calculated for both imaging modalities.

RESULTS: The range of findings for each measure is described. The comparison of videostroboscopy ratings with ratings from HSV studies did not reveal any significant difference between the 2 modalities for any of the measures except for the assessment of periodicity. Aperiodic vibratory characteristics were noted on 30% of the videostroboscopy studies (n = 15) and in only 4% of the HSV studies (n = 2) (P <. 001). Although interrater and intrarater agreement were considered to be generally acceptable, a significant rater effect was identified.

CONCLUSION: This preliminary study describes a range of normal values for vocal fold vibratory characteristics as recorded with laryngeal HSV, providing a basis for comparison of studies in patients with voice problems.