Correlation of Nasal Volume, Cross-Sectional Area With Nasalance Scores Measured by Acoustic Rhinometry and Nasometry

June 11, 2013 updated by: University of Chicago

Correlation of Nasal Volume and Cross-Sectional Area With Nasalance Scores as Measured by Acoustic Rhinometry and Nasometry

The purpose of our study is to correlate nasal volume and cross-sectional area with nasalance scores. We will measure nasal volume and cross-sectional area with acoustic rhinometry. Nasalance scores will be determined by Nasometry.

Acoustic rhinometry is a means to study the volume and cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity in a non-invasive, rapid, convenient and reliable manner. Acoustic rhinometry has the unique advantage of being completely non-invasive, and thus is able to measure nasal patency without the confounding effects of probes or invasive monitoring.

Nasometry is a technique to measure the oral and nasal components of nasalance. Nasalance is the objective measure of the nasal component of speech that is determined by the ratio of sound pressure emitted from the nasal and oral cavities during speech. Nasality is the term used to characterize the nasal component of speech, and is a subjective measure.

Eleven healthy subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry pre and post decongestion using oxymetazoline 0.05% nasal spray. Nasalance scores were based on the readings of three passages: rainbow, zoo, and nasal.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Detailed Description

Acoustic rhinometry is a technique that utilizes sound waves to measure nasal patency. The reflections of the waves off of the nasal structures allow one to assess the volume and cross sectional area of the nasal cavity. It is a non-invasive procedure that can be performed in a rapid, convenient, and reliable manner. There is minimal discomfort for the patient and it can be performed easily in the office. There is no distortion of nasal anatomy or functioning as a result of the procedure.

Nasometry is a technique to measure the oral and nasal components of nasalance. Nasalance is an objective measure of the nasal component of speech that is determined by the ratio of acoustic pressures emitted from the nasal and oral cavities. 'Nasality' is the term used to characterize the nasal component of speech, and is a subjective measure.

The Nasometer (Kay Elemetrics Corp Lincoln Park, NJ) is a computer-based device that analyzes acoustic energy that is emitted from the oral and the nasal cavity during speech. It consists of two microphones that are separated by a plate. The upper microphone measures nasally emitted acoustic energy, and the lower microphone measure the acoustic energy emitted from the oral cavity.

Nasalance is an important measure in speech pathology. In situations where velopharyngeal competence is in question, nasometry objectively documents the nasal component of speech as normal, hypemasal or hyponasal. It has been found to be of tremendous benefit in the management of patients with cleft palate and velopharyngeal incompetence. The subject is relaxed, and is fitted with a headgear apparatus. This apparatus is placed such that a plate lies in a horizontal plane that rests midway between the nose and the mouth. There are microphones on the upper and lower surfaces of the plate that capture sound energy produced from the nasal and oral cavities respectively. The subject is then asked to read standard passages. The three most commonly used passages are described here, and will be used in our study. The 'Rainbow' passage is most representative of standard English speech. The 'Zoo' passage has no nasal consonants, and the 'Nasal' passage has the highest number of nasal consonants.

While the subject is reading, the microphone captures sound pressure levels which are emitted from the nasal and the oral cavities. This data is analyzed by the attached computer and presented graphically. The computer also provides a nasalance score for each of three above- mentioned passages. Normative data is available for each of these passages for adults and children. By comparing the data obtained from the subject with the normative means and standard deviations, the investigator can categorize the subject's voice as normal, hyponasal or hypernasal. The nasalance score that is generated can also be used to monitor the efficacy of speech therapy and surgical interventions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

20

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637
        • The University of Chicago

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy adults over the age of 18 years who no gross nasal deformity

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or nursing females
  • Subjects younger than 18 years
  • Allergy to the drug oxymetazoline
  • Inability to read a simple standard English passage
  • History of heart disease, hypertension, renal, liver or lung disease

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Nasal volume

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Nasalance scores

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Daniel Martin, M.D., University of Chicago

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2005

Study Completion

August 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 6, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 7, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 12, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 11, 2013

Last Verified

June 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 13093A

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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