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Computational Fluid Dynamics is used to model airflow and penetrant behaviour under cough reflex in human airway. The airway geometry segment from the oral cavity to the primary bronchi is reconstructed from CT scan images of a human subject in the standing posture. The inlet flow condition is derived from dynamic cough profiles obtained from two subjects. The mathematical model allows the laryngopharyngeal wall of the airway to remodel. A k-ω turbulence model is used to represent the transitional flow. A Lagrangian approach is used to track solid penetrants in the flow field as a function of penetrant size and density. High velocities are predicted at peak expiratory cough phase. The penetrant size significantly influences the particle residence time and drag force is largely responsible for changes in the penetrant momentum. The smaller penetrants act like tracers in the flow and can escape the airway faster than larger penetrants.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the prevalence and incidence of vocal fold pathologies among undergraduate classical, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music (CCM) students over two‐time points.MethodsThis study is part of a longitudinal investigation. Videostroboscopic examinations were rated, with consensus among three of four expert blinded raters confirming the presence of pathology. Association between genre of singer and the presence of pathology, interrater reliability, and intra‐rater reliability were calculated. Prevalence and incidence of pathologies were compared across genres.ResultsDuring first‐year evaluations, 32% of musical theatre, 18% of CCM, and 0% of classical students had vocal pathologies. The prevalence at third‐year evaluations showed 22% of classical, 39% of musical theatre, and 27% of CCM participants having vocal fold pathologies. The incidence of pathologies was 67% of musical theatre students compared to 22% of classical students and 27% of CCM students. The four raters demonstrated fair to moderate interrater agreement. Singing Voice Handicap Index‐10 scores were normal for CCM singers at both time points but elevated for musical theatre and classical singers.ConclusionNo classical singers were found to have pathology during first‐year evaluations, although CCM and musical theatre singers showed evidence of vocal fold pathologies. At third‐year evaluations, all three genres had an apparent increase in prevalence of pathologies. Implications of this study suggest that more time in the field and intense voice usage may lead to a greater risk of pathology for all singers, regardless of genre.Level of Evidence2 Laryngoscope, 133:2317–2324, 2023

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