The Relationship between Jaw Relaxation and Vocal Fold Adduction.


Jaw position and tension have been related to vocal output and past studies found that jaw positioning can influence electroglottography contact quotient (EGG-CQ), vowel perception in older adults, and voice quality. Despite the understanding that jaw positioning and activation affect vocal production, few voice therapy techniques directly address jaw activity. The purpose of this study is to compare the relative contributions of mechanical and sensory manipulations in the jaw on voice production during voice training. 30 vocally healthy singers with no history of neurological, head/neck, and jaw conditions, participated in a within-participant reversal paradigm. Each participant underwent initial training in Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT). Then they engaged in three types of jaw relaxation activities: increased sensory awareness, postural adjustments, and massage. Treatments were counterbalanced between participants to avoid learning effects. Following each jaw activity participants produced an m-buzz according to LMRVT. Dependent measures included EGG-CQ, vocal effort using the Borg Centimax scale, and an informal perceptual scale of strength of the sensations of vibration at the anterior alveolar ridge, which were taken after baseline and experimental conditions. Data collection is on-going. Initial data revealed reduced vocal effort and increased awareness of anterior oral vibrations following jaw massage.

Sophie
Miriam
Blatt
van Mersbergen