Relationship between Nasal Valve Changes and Nasalance of the Voice

Abstract

Objective: Investigate the effect of nasal valve changes on nasalance of the voice by using an external nasal dilator strip that widens the nasal valve area.

Method: Healthy volunteers who had normal nasal and laryngeal findings were enrolled into the study. All volunteers received acoustic rhinometry and nasometry before and while wearing a commercially available external nasal dilator strip. The data with and without nasal strip were compared.

Results: Twenty-five subjects were enrolled into the study. After application of the nasal strips, statistically significant increases were observed in the minimal cross-sectional area of the nasal valve. However, there were no significant changes in nasalance measurements.

Conclusion: Despite increasing the nasal valve area, application of nasal strips did not cause a significant change in nasalance scores, showing no relationship between the nasal valve changes and nasalance of the voice.