Dynamic Analysis Of Male "Extra-high Voice" Using Multi-row Detector Computed Tomography

Daisuke Inukai; Hiroki Yokoi; Shumpei Yamanaka; Hiromu Nakamura; Takashi Maruo; Tetsuya Ogawa; Kenichi Kondo; Yogaku Lee; Kazuhiro Nakamura; Yasushi Fujimoto

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.07.025

Dynamic Analysis Of Male "Extra-high Voice" Using Multi-row Detector Computed Tomography

J Voice. 2023 Sep 18:S0892-1997(23)00234-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.07.025. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Yazakokarimata 1-1, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan. Electronic address: Daisuke.inukai.006@mail.aichi-med-u.ac.jp.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Yazakokarimata 1-1, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
³ Central Radiation Division, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Yazakokarimata 1-1, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyushu University School of Medicine, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
⁵ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Japan University School of Medicine, Oyaguchi-kamimachi 30-1, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan.

PMID: 37730488
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.07.025

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Some people who practice singing on a daily basis may be able to produce a voice higher than the upper limit of the normal range (extra high voice), but there is much regarding the movement of the larynx that remains unknown. We have been conducting dynamic analysis of the larynx using multi-row detection computed tomography (MD-CT) at our university and report herein an analysis of the extra high voice.

Study design: Observational.

Methods: Images of a normal male participant capable of extremely high-frequency speech (the highest speech range is C7 [2093 Hz] and the singing application range is up to B5 [988 Hz]) during speech were captured by MD-CT. The acquisition time was 2 seconds, and the rise of the voice from low to high and then to very high tones was recorded. Ten frames per second were analyzed as three-dimensional images.

Results: In the fundamental frequency range from A3 to D5 (220-587 Hz), laryngeal elevation movements were observed as the voice rose in pitch. However, posterior upward displacement of the laryngeal cartilage was observed as the frequency range increased from E5 to B5 (659-988 Hz).

Conclusions: In the E5-B5 range, laryngeal movements were different from those observed in the previous range. MD-CT analysis is useful in the study of this range because it allows visualization of laryngeal movements that are unclear using endoscopy or external examination.

Keywords: Extremely high-frequency speech; Laryngeal elevation movements; Multi-row detector computed tomography.

Publication types

Case Reports