CCC Fluency and Voice Disorders 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Vocal nodules most commonly develop in which population due to vocal overuse or misuse?
- Elderly men
- Professional singers and heavy voice users (Correct answer)
- Infants
- Individuals post-laryngectomy
Correct answer: Professional singers and heavy voice users
Vocal nodules are callous-like lesions on the vocal fold edges commonly caused by chronic vocal overuse and poor vocal hygiene, often in singers and heavy voice users.
Question 2: Videostroboscopy evaluates vocal fold function primarily by observing:
- Subglottal pressure
- Vocal fold mucosal wave and closure patterns (Correct answer)
- Respiratory support for speech
- Resonance characteristics
Correct answer: Vocal fold mucosal wave and closure patterns
Videostroboscopy uses a strobe light synchronized to vocal fold vibration to visualize the mucosal wave and vibratory characteristics.
Question 3: Which perceptual rating scale is commonly used to describe voice quality dimensions including roughness, breathiness, and strain?
- CAPE-V
- VHI-10
- GRBAS (Correct answer)
- VLS
Correct answer: GRBAS
The GRBAS scale rates voice on Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain using a 0–3 severity scale.
Question 4: Vocal hygiene counseling for a patient with voice disorders would include which recommendation?
- Increase caffeine intake to energize the voice
- Increase hydration and reduce vocal misuse behaviors (Correct answer)
- Use a loud voice to strengthen the vocal folds
- Avoid humming as it stresses the folds
Correct answer: Increase hydration and reduce vocal misuse behaviors
Vocal hygiene programs emphasize adequate hydration, reduced vocal misuse (shouting, throat clearing), and voice rest to support vocal fold health.
Question 5: Spasmodic dysphonia (adductor type) is characterized by which voice quality?
- Breathy, aphonic breaks
- Strained, strangled voice with voice breaks (Correct answer)
- High-pitched tremulous voice
- Monopitch with reduced loudness
Correct answer: Strained, strangled voice with voice breaks
Adductor spasmodic dysphonia involves involuntary spasms that close the vocal folds during voiced speech, causing a strained, strangled quality with voice breaks.
Question 6: Which treatment is considered the most effective medical management for adductor spasmodic dysphonia?
- Voice therapy alone
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections into the thyroarytenoid muscle (Correct answer)
- Vocal fold augmentation
- Resonance therapy
Correct answer: Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections into the thyroarytenoid muscle
Botulinum toxin injections into the thyroarytenoid (or cricothyroid) muscles temporarily paralyze the overactive muscles, reducing spasms in spasmodic dysphonia.
CCC Fluency and Voice Disorders 2
Vocal nodules most commonly develop in which population due to vocal overuse or misuse?