Web-Based Analysis of Nasal Sound Spectra

Abstract

The spectral analysis of the nasal sound is an indicator of the nasal airflow pattern. We investigated a new technique for nasal sound analysis via Internet. This study includes 27 patients and 22 healthy people. Patients were treated by septoplasty operation for septal deviation. Postoperation 10^th day, this technique was applied to follow nasal airflow course. The patients recorded the nasal sound by microphone into the computer as a .wav file and sent us via internet, all those records were evaluated by us. The results were sent back to themselves. The 11 patients who had nasal obstruction symptoms (group A) were called to the hospital to check. In the nasal sound analyses e-mails of those patients, the sound intensity was at high frequencies (2–4 kHz, 4–6 kHz) above 30 dB, but low (500–1000 Hz) and medium frequencies(1–2 kHz), are below then 10 dB. In the patients without nasal obstruction symptom(group B), the sound intensity was at high frequencies below 10 dB, but low and medium frequencies are above 20 dB. There was a statistically significant difference in sound intensity between group A and group B. In the endoscopical examination of those obstructions, which decreases the nasal airway, crusting formation in the nasal cavity was found. Web-based nasal sound analysis is an important method to follow the postoperative course and the nasal airflow evaluation. The new method will save time and money, avoiding a return visit to the hospital unnecessarily.