Techniques to lower pressure on vocal folds for better voice health
Official title: Laryngeal and vocal tract strategies to reduce vocal fold contact pressure
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11017704 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain vocal exercises can help protect your voice and prevent injuries, so you can feel more confident about your voice therapy progress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $623,365 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020240-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11017704 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who experience phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction or related voice issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with voice disorders unrelated to vocal fold contact pressure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific vocal techniques and exercises can help reduce the pressure on vocal folds, which is crucial for preventing voice injuries. By focusing on the adjustments made in the larynx and vocal tract during these exercises, the study aims to provide objective measures to evaluate the effectiveness of voice therapy. The research will experimentally validate previous theoretical models and explore how these adjustments can improve vocal efficiency. Patients may benefit from a more reliable understanding of their voice therapy progress and outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved voice therapy techniques that better protect vocal health and prevent injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using vocal techniques to improve voice health, but this study aims to provide more concrete experimental validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Zhaoyan — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Zhaoyan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.