Voice research: so what? A clearer view of voice production, 25 years of progress; the speaking voice.

The past 25 years has yielded an impressive growth in our knowledge of vocal function. Interdisciplinary research cooperation in areas of laryngeal histology, vocal aerodynamics and acoustics, vocal fold vibratory characteristics, neurolaryngology, and phonatory models has led to a clearer view of voice production. This article offers a brief review of the progress that has been made in our understanding of the speaking voice and relates this knowledge to clinical practice. The importance of utilizing voice research to confirm traditional management techniques and to develop new physiologically based management approaches is also stressed.