The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of voice disorders and the Korean voice handicap index in the elderly. For this study, 169 elderly performed two types of questionnaires and vowel /a/ prolongation. Self-reported voice symptoms and the Korean voice handicap index were analyzed and acoustic voice evaluation was performed by MDVP. The results showed that the prevalence of voice disorders in the elderly are significantly higher than that of adults in self-reports. In acoustic evaluation, 32.2% of the male elderly and 40.9% of the female elderly exceeded the thresholds of Jitter (%), Shimmer (%) and NHR. In addition, Korean voice handicap index scores of the female elderly are significantly higher than those of female adults. These findings indicate the high frequency of voice disorders in the elderly and the need to focus on this group. Additional studies on the voice related quality of life for the elderly are needed.

The purpose of this study is to identify undergraduate students' emotional response and characteristics of receptiveness as a lecture voice to hoarse and normal reading voice. A hoarse voice sample was collected from a 30 year-old female with functional voice disorder and normal voice sample was collected from a female with same age without voice problems. After listening the voice samples, undergraduate students filled out the adjective checklist and responded to the questionnaire about their feelings as a lecture voice. The results showed that the students had negative emotions to hoarse voice and preferred normal voice to a hoarse voice as a lecture voice. Also, these results pointed out that professors' voice quality in class is important and prevention and care of voice problem(s) are necessary.

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The purpose of this study was to compare nasalance scores of the experimental paragraphs and sentences with and without ‘Hypernasality Control Device (HCD)’ and to determine the degree of foreign body sensation and pain with HCD. A 44-year-old normal adult woman wore type I and type II HCD, and then she was asked to read aloud the experimental paragraphs and sentences. Using a Nasometer, the nasalance scores were measured. The subject responded to a questionnaire with 5-point scale to measure the degree of foreign body sensation and pain after wearing two types of HCD. In all experimental paragraphs and sentences, the nasalance scores with HCD were measured lower than those of without HCD. In addition, there was no foreign body sensation and pain with HCD, or it was at a slight level. These results showed that HCD played a role in regulating nasal resonance in a normal adult woman. It is expected that the HCD will contribute to the control of the nasalance scores in hypernasality subjects. And simplify the production process and continuous modification are required for efficient application and the appropriate HCD size and shape.

The purpose of this study was to compare nasalance scores of the experimental vowels, words and paragraphs with and without ‘Hypernasality Control Device (HCD)’ in adults with hypernasality. Three adults with a cerebrovascular attack or a Parkinson’s disease wore in HCD, were asked to read aloud the experimental vowels, words and paragraphs. Using a Nasometer, the nasalance scores were measured. In all experimental vowels, words and paragraphs, the nasalance scores with HCD were measured lower than those without HCD. These results showed that HCD played a role in regulating nasal resonance in adults with hypernasality. However, various modifications and trials of HCD are required for the adequate modulation of nasal resonance. Additional studies are also required for adults with various degrees of hypernasality.