Case 68 (2008) 61 yo

She is 61 years old and lived as a female for 22 years.

These recordings are set to a fairly low resolution for the internet but do demonstrate the general sound and function of the vocal cords before and after this case of laryngeal reduction surgery. Much more detail is actually visible in the office. The videos when shown are oriented with the front down and the left vocal fold is on the right of the video. Orientation is discussed here. Please note: These examples of possible results should not be construed to represent what will be acheived in any other patient. Thus there are several examples of patients on the site

There are many components to a voice exam. I have selected ones here that I feel change the most with this type of surgery.

 

Pre Surgery

2 months

1 year

 

Reading passage

Pitch is described relative to C4 or middle C on the piano.

  

Pitch: about C3# - mid male range

(typical male speaking range about B2 - E3)

With effort she could maintain this pitch for awhile.

Pitch: about G3 (about 6 semitones higher than pre-op), scratchy in quality.

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

Pitch: relaxed, phonates about F3 and smooth

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

 

Lowest pitch

  

Pitch: about F2 (normal male low range varies C1 - C3)

Pitch: about B2

Pitch: about E3 - she has benefitted from a loss of most of her lower range.

  

Highest pitch

  

Pitch: about D5

Pitch: about G4

Pitch: about A4 - somewhat less high than before surgery

  

Vegetative sounds

coughing & throat clearing

        

 

 

 

  

Yell

loud phonation

    

 

 

not appreciably changed

  

Laryngoscopy

Views

        
abduction overview of cords
 
post surgical view breathing
  

Stroboscopy

saying the sound /i/

        

strobe view

Views during phonation.
 

strobe view

Views during phonation.

  
The surgeon’s comments:

She had a feminization laryngoplasty and a thyrohyoid elevation. I removed about 45% off the front of the vocal cords. Her posterior glottis is a bit open pre-surgery and that gap is present and allows relatively more air to escape post-operatively.