Current research studies being conducted at the Voice Center
Conversation Training Therapy (Principal Investigators: Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Gartner-Schmidt): Voice therapy is the usual treatment for nearly 140 million people in the United States with voice disorders. This research project is designed to evaluate a new voice therapy program called Conversation Training Therapy (CTT). CTT was created by experts in voice therapy using information collected from voice therapy patients. The information helped to identify the techniques of voice therapy that patients feel are most valuable and useful to getting back to their original voice quality.
Positive Airway Pressure (Principal Investigators: Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Smith, Dr. Soose): This research study is designed to better understand the effects of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy on voice in individuals being treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Aerodynamic Profile of Non-Voice Disordered Individuals (Principal Investigators: Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Gartner-Schmidt): This research aims to describe the aerodynamic profiles of people who do not have a voice disorder. Aerodynamic profiles refer to the measurement of the amount of air and air pressure needed to start and maintain the vibration of the vocal folds to produce sound.
Video Perceptual Analysis of Vocal Fold Motion (Principal Investigator: Dr. Rosen): Laryngoscopy is the main investigational tool in the diagnosis of vocal fold motion abnormalities. The objective of this research is to investigate how well general otolaryngologists and fellowship-trained laryngologists can assess vocal fold motion or vocal fold immobility based on laryngoscopy.
Nimodipine - Off-Label Use in Individuals with Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury (Principal Investigator: Dr. Rosen): This study will address the utility of the drug, Nimodipine, for the treatment of unilateral and bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Nimodipine is hypothesized to increase neural regeneration following laryngeal nerve injury resulting in an increased probability of recovery of vocal fold motion following unilateral or bilateral vocal fold paralysis.
Predictive Value of Laryngeal Electromyography in Acute Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis and Significant Vocal Fold Paresis of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (Principal Investigator: Dr. Smith): This study evaluates the natural history of acute unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis and severe paresis. Paralysis or paresis of the vocal cords means that the vocal cords are not moving together as they normally should. Paralysis or paresis of the vocal cords can lead to difficulties in speaking, singing, eating, drinking, and breathing.
Defining the minimal clinically important difference of the Voice Handicap Index- 10 (Principal Investigator: Dr. Young): The goal of this study is to determine how a change in patient-perceived voice handicap correlates with clinical improvement in voice.
Treatment efficacy of surgical interventions for vocal fold atrophy (Principal Investigator: Dr. Young): This research aims to determine if surgical augmentation of atrophic vocal folds is beneficial to patients, and if so, if one type of augmentation approach is superior to others.
Differentiation of asthma from paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder (Principal Investigator: Dr. Gillespie): The goal of this research is to determine if patient-symptom questionnaires can reliably differentiate patients with confirmed asthma and those with paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder.
• Link to a way to sign up to participate in research