Assessing Orthotic Normalization of Pharyngeal Dynamics

Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, 2004 Author: J. S. Viviano, B.Sc., D.D.S. Conclusion: “Both non-invasive and accurate, acoustic reflectometry (AR) provides and objective measurement of the oral cavity and pharyngeal airway caudal to the velopharynx down to the glottis. Other advantages include ease of use and repeatability, inexpensive to perform, and high patient acceptance.” “Although video…

Increased Upper Airway Collapsibility in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea during Wakefulness

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical care Medicine, 2004 Authors: D. Gozal and M. M. Burnside Conclusion: “This study shows that acoustic pharyngometric measurements of the upper airway before and after topical anesthesia provide a reproducible measure of Upper Airway Collapsibility in awake children. Furthermore, a cutoff value derived from the differences in cross-section area…

Changes in the Human Vocal Tract Due to Aging and the Acoustic Correlates of Speech Production

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 2003 Authors: S. A. Xue and G. J. Hao Conclusion: “This investigation used a derivation of acoustic reflection (AR) technology to make cross-sectional measurements of changes due to aging in the oral and pharyngeal lumina of male and female speakers. The purpose of the study was to establish…

Acoustic Reflection: Review and Clinical Applications for sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep and Breathing, 2002 Authors: J. S. Viviano, D.D.S. Conclusion: “The potential clinical usefulness of AR in the treatment of patients with SDB involves all stages of treatment: initial screening of patients, establishing patient candidacy, evaluating nasal patency, determining mandibular posture that optimizes airway patency, determining orthotic titration settings, and verifying continued efficacy of orthotic…

Utility of Noninvasive Pharyngometry in Epidemiologic Studies of childhood Sleep- disordered Breathing

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2002 Authors: K. J. Monahan, E. K. Larkin, C. L. Rosen, G. Graham, and S. Redline Conclusion: “The usefulness of any diagnostic test depends on numerous factors, including its feasibility, predictive ability (regarding predicting clinical endpoints or discriminating subgroups of the population), precision (or reliability), accuracy, and…

Detection of Positional Airway Obstruction in Neonates by Acoustic Reflection

American Jornal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2000 Authors: P. Jarreau, B. Louis, L. Desfrere, P. W. Blanchard, D. Isabey, A. Harf, and G. Moriette Conclusion: “In conclusion, this study showed that the [Acoustic Reflection] method is an effective way to diagnose abutment of an ETT against the tracheal wall in infants. The method…

Objective evaluation of velopharyngeal function by acoustic reflection measurements

Mund Kiefer GesichtsChirurgie, 1998 Authors: M. Kunkel, U. Wahlmann, W. Wagner Introduction: “Today, acoustic rhinometry can be viewed as an accepted diagnostic tool, frequently used in the planning and follow-up of functional nasal surgery, as well as in the quantitative evaluation of allergic mucosal reactions. “Even for further peripheral airways, Jackson et al. reported that,…

Pharyngeal Cross-Sectional Area and Pharyngeal Compliance in Normal Males and Females

Respiration, 1998 Authors: J. Huang, H. Shen, M. Takahashi, T. Fukunaga, h. Toga, K. Takahashi, N. Ohya Conclusion: “In conclusion, we measured pharyngeal parameters in a large number of normal subjects using the acoustic reflection technique with air breathing. The pharyngeal compliance was greater in the men than in the women, and it increased with…

Objective, Noninvasive Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Function in Cleft and Noncleft patients

Cleft Palate-Craniofacial journal, January 1998 Authors: M. Kunkel, U. Wahlmann, W. Wagner Conclusion: “Cleft palate and control patients showed overlapping ranges of velopharyngeal mobility, indicating that muscle function cannot be classified as normal or pathologic by a single acoustic measurement. An objective method of assessing velopharyngeal mobility may, however, provide a diagnostic tool for monitoring…

Comparison of Glottic Areas Measured by Acoustic Reflections vs. Computerized Tomography

Journal of Applied Physiology, 1998 Authors: A. D. D’Urzo, I. Rubinstein, V. G. Lawson, K. P. Vassal, A. S. Rebuck, A. S Slutsky, and V. Hoffstein Conclusion: “The acoustic reflection method is essentially a physiological tool, dedicated to performing only a single measurement, namely that of airway area. The major advantage of the acoustic reflections…