Research at the UPMC Voice Center

Current Research Studies at the Voice Center

Conversation Training Therapy
Dr. Gillespie
Dr. Gartner-Schmidt

Description: This research project will evaluate a new voice therapy program called Conversation Training Therapy (CTT). Voice therapy experts created CTT using data collected from their patients. This helped to identify the voice therapy methods that patients felt were most valuable and useful to getting back to their original voice quality.

Positive Airway Pressure
Dr. Gillespie
Dr. Smith
Dr. Soose

Description: The goal of this research study is to better understand the effects of Positive Airway Pressure therapy on the voice in people during treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

Aerodynamic Profile of Non-Voice Disordered Individuals
Dr. Gillespie
Dr. Gartner-Schmidt

Description: This research aims to describe the aerodynamic profiles of people who do not have a voice disorder. Aerodynamic profiles measure the amount of air and air pressure a person needs to start and maintain the vibration of the vocal folds to produce sound.

Video Perceptual Analysis of Vocal Fold Motion
Dr. Rosen

Description: Laryngoscopy is the main tool doctors use to diagnose vocal fold motion abnormalities. The purpose 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 People with Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury
Dr. Rosen

Description: This study will address the use of the drug, Nimodipine, for the treatment of unilateral and bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Researchers hypothesize Nimodipine will increase neural regeneration following laryngeal nerve injury resulting in an increased probability of recovery of vocal fold motion following paralysis.escription: 

Predictive Value of Laryngeal Electromyography in Acute Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis and Paresis of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Dr. Smith

Description: This study evaluates the natural history of acute unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and severe paresis. Paralysis or paresis of the vocal cords means that the vocal cords are not moving together as they should. This can lead to problems speaking, singing, eating, drinking, and breathing.

Defining the Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Voice Handicap Index-10
Dr. Young

Description: The goal of this study is to find out how a change in patient-perceived voice handicap correlates with clinical improvement in voice.

Treatment Efficacy of Surgical Interventions for Vocal Fold Atrophy
Dr. Young

Description: This research aims to determine if surgical augmentation of atrophic vocal folds benefits patients. And, if so, if one augmentation approach is superior to others.

Differentiation of Asthma from Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion Disorder
Dr. Gillespie

Description:The goal of this research is to see if patient-symptom questionnaires can reliably differentiate patients with confirmed asthma and those with paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder