Effect of Subglottic Stenosis Severity on Voice Production in Realistic Laryngeal and Airway Geometries Using Fluid-Structure-Acoustics Interaction Simulation

In this study, the effect of subglottic stenosis (SGS) on glottal flow dynamics, vocal fold vibration, and acoustics during voice production is examined in realistic laryngeal and airway geometries reconstructed from MRI scans and by employing an in-house three-dimensional fluid-structure-acoustics interaction numerical solver. The preliminary results show that the SGS severities lower than 50% have a negligible effect on voice production. By increasing the SGS severity, the effect became more important for 75% and 90% SGS severities, respectively. The area ratio of the glottis to SGS airway was found to be important. For higher SGS severities, the area ratio is higher, leads to a higher flow resistance and consequently, a higher effect on voice production.