Structural Vocal Pathologies Practice Test

Visual assessment findings in laryngitis include which of the following?

Reduced or absent mucosal wave Increased mucosal wave Normal mucosal wave Hyperfunctioning vocal folds

Correct Answer:

Reduced or absent mucosal wave

Explanation:

Inflammation and edema from laryngitis add mass to the vocal fold cover and reduce its ability to vibrate freely, which dampens the mucosal wave. The mucosal wave is the ripple of the vocal fold cover that normally travels across its surface during phonation; when the tissue becomes swollen and less pliable, the wave’s amplitude decreases and it may even disappear in visualization. An increased mucosal wave would imply unusually pliant tissue or reduced mass, which isn’t typical of inflammatory edema. A normal mucosal wave suggests no disturbance of the cover’s vibration. Hyperfunctioning vocal folds describe excessive adduction or tension, a pattern more associated with strained voice, not the edema-driven changes seen in laryngitis.

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