Airway Oscillation: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Production of Voice, Airflow, and Resonance Frequency Breathing

Our postural and breathing behavior is modified by and modifies our voice. The 11th Annual Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium will provide an overview of this symbiotic relationship. Humans pull air, and push air, but more importantly regulate the flow of air to survive. In a broad sense, this flow we produce to communicate meaning, ideas, opinions, etc. influences our behavior on how we process all of our senses and body positions. In the narrow sense, voice production refers to sounds produced by vocal fold vibration, or voiced sounds. This is contrast to unvoiced sounds which are produced without vocal fold vibration, such as whispering and fricatives.

Epiglottic and infra-glossus functions are strongly correlated with positional placement of the larynx, hyoid and airway. Caudal, cephalic, sagittal, or lateral displacement of any of the latter will have a compensatory impact on the control and patterns developed by our tongue and respiratory system. Therefore, proper maintenance of airway opening during inhalation depends on the orientation, diameter, adduction and abduction activity of vocal folds, and vibratory regulation of the larynx. The human’s truncal posture and power is regulated by this activity through establishment of intrathoracic and intraabdominal pressure through intrinsic laryngeal musculature, in, on and around the larynx.

These topics and their impact on and integration with anatomical oscillation should appeal to all professionals associated with speech, airway management, respiratory function, pulmonary endurance, rhythmic movement and autonomic regulation. This year’s speakers represent five different disciplines and they all have demonstrated a strong commitment to the subject matter they will present, through professional peer publication, ongoing educational instruction as faculty, and interactive clinical application.
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