Introduction: Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) can indicate affective states—including psychosocial stress—in mice and rats. However, stress-induced USV changes could be confounded by laboratory experimental variables such as the type of behavioral stress paradigm, the elicitation method, rodent strain, etc. We sought to provide a review of the current literature to delineate how psychosocial stress-altered rodent USVs may be affected by factors of age, sex, strain, species, elicitation paradigm, and stressor. Methods: We used PubMed, Scopus (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCO), and the following Web of Science (Clarivate) databases: Biological Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Science Citation Index-Expanded, and Emerging Sources Citation Index. The studies identified by our search strategy were independently screened by two authors with the following inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, in English, reported original data, and described USV in response to stress in rats or mice. The data extracted included USV acoustic parameters (mean peak frequency and mean amplitude (loudness)), details of the stress and USV elicitation paradigms, rodent species, age, and sex variables. Results: The following screening of 5309 titles/abstracts and 687 full-text articles revealed 148 articles. Footshock (20%), cold exposure (14%), and maternal separation (23.5%) were the most commonly used stress paradigms (duration and type of stressor varied across studies), with the total number of USV calls being the most commonly reported acoustic outcome. In rats, 121 articles described stress-altered USVs, while 25 studies reported the same in mice, and two reported multiple rodent species (rats and mice, alongside other rodent species such as gerbils). With respect to stress-altered USV changes with age, mice and rats increase USV rates after birth, with a peak around 6 to 10 days, and decrease USVs until weanling age. Of the five studies that reported sex-related differences in stress-induced USVs, females had an increased number of calls and lower average peak frequency in response to stress when compared to males. Only two to four studies reported strain-related differences in stress-induced vocalizations in rats and mice, respectively. Conclusions: The data from this review lay the groundwork for better understanding rodent USVs in response to psychosocial stress with effects of elicitation paradigm, stressor, age, and sex.

Rationale: Systemic dehydration negatively alters the expression of vocal fold inflammatory and cell junction markers. These biological changes can have downstream effects on the healing processes of injured vocal folds. In the dermis, reduced hydration prolongs inflammation and delays healing. It is unknown whether this biological effect is observed in vocal fold tissue.Objective: To investigate the effects of systemic dehydration on vocal fold healing outcomes following acute, bilateral vocal fold injury in a rodent model.Methods: Eighteen systemic dehydrated and 18 euhydrated adult male Sprague Dawley rats experienced bilateral vocal fold injuries or no injury (N = 9/group). Vocal fold gene expression levels of inflammatory mediators and epithelial cell junction markers were measured 24 h post‐injury.Results: Pro‐inflammatory gene markers (IL‐1β; TNF‐α) were differentially expressed in response to systemic dehydration with vocal fold injury compared to non‐injury. Epithelial cell junction markers (Cadherin‐3, Desmoglein‐1) also exhibited divergent trends following systemic dehydration, but these data were not statistically significant.Conclusions: Systemic dehydration may affect cellular vocal fold healing processes within 24 h. These findings lay the groundwork for further investigation of how hydration status can affect vocal fold tissue recovery and influence clinical care.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine current speech-language pathologist (SLP) practice patterns in the diagnosis and treatment of induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO; both exercise- and irritant-induced variants: exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction [EILO]/ILO). Method: One hundred ninety-one SLPs from throughout the United States were surveyed regarding practice patterns for diagnosing and treating EILO/ILO. SLPs were queried regarding diagnostic procedures, treatment practices, outcome measures, rescue breathing strategies utilized, and discharge criteria employed within their clinical practice. SLPs rated their confidence in treating EILO/ILO using a visual analog scale. Clinician confidence was compared across SLPs working in different settings, with different populations, and with varying access to diagnostic equipment/collaborators. Median income of facility neighborhood and clinician experience were also considered. Results: Most SLPs reported that patients with EILO/ILO were diagnosed using laryngoscopy (with or without videostroboscopy) either at rest or following exercise. Only 4.7% of respondents indicated that their patients had access to continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE) for diagnosing EILO. The Dyspnea Index was the most common patient-reported outcome measure for both EILO and ILO. SLPs reported high confidence levels in rescue breathing techniques, and informal patient report was the most common method of tracking therapeutic progress. Forty-one percent of SLPs voiced the need for increased access to diagnostic equipment (CLE or laryngoscopy), and 51.8% expressed the need for exercise facilities (i.e., treadmills or places to have patients run). Clinicians reported significantly higher levels of confidence treating EILO as opposed to ILO ( p < .001). Collaborating with a laryngologist ( p < .001), more years of experience ( p = .025), and wealthier median income of practice setting ( p = .014) predicted increased confidence in treating EILO/ILO. Conclusions: SLPs may have limited access to the most effective facilities and diagnostic equipment designed to identify EILO/ILO. Continuing research is needed to provide SLPs with evidence-based diagnostic procedures, treatment strategies, and outcome measures to enhance EILO/ILO intervention for all patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the age at which children with voice disorders can complete videostroboscopy, acoustic, and aerodynamic voice assessments. Factors predicting videostroboscopy tolerance were examined. Method: A retrospective observational cohort design was used. Three hundred twelve children with voice disorders were divided into the following age groups: 3–4, 5–6, 7–9, 10–12, and 13–17 years. Videostroboscopy was considered complete if patients produced enough phonation during the exam to allow for stroboscopic ratings of vocal fold oscillation (i.e., mucosal wave, amplitude) to be performed. Patient demographics, voice-related diagnoses, voice symptoms, vocal fold oscillation ratings, clinician experience level, and acoustic and aerodynamic voice measures were collected from the medical record. Results: All children tolerated laryngeal imaging under steady-state halogen light. Almost 17% of 3- to 4-year-olds tolerated videostroboscopy. This number significantly increased to 55% in 5- to 6-year-olds ( p < .01) and to 60% in 7- to 9-year-olds. Success rates again significantly increased to 85% in 10- to 12-year-olds ( p < .01) and 93.1% in children ≥ 13 years old. Age ( p = .03) and ability to perform the voice range profile ( p < .01) and aerodynamic voice assessment ( p < .01) tasks significantly predicted which patients could tolerate videostroboscopy. Half of 3- to 4-year-old children produced sustained phonation for acoustic analyses compared to 91.7% of 5- to 6-year-olds ( p < .01). The majority of children ≥ 5 years old completed the voice range profile task (63.3%) and aerodynamic voice assessments (66.7%). Conclusions: Videostroboscopy is viable for young children with voice disorders. The ability to complete aerodynamic and voice range profile tasks may serve as a preliminary indicator of how well a patient will tolerate videostroboscopy. Future prospective study may determine the most effective approach to help children tolerate instrumental voice assessments.