This study has as its theme the exercise with semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVTE) and tries to summarize and to organize, through review of literature, information about physical and anatomophysiology notions underlying SOVTE and its different types, through description, clinical applicability, restrictions, time of performance, effects and effectiveness. The SOVTE is performed with vocal tract occlusion which modifies the acoustic impedance and generates retroflex resonance, which repels the vocal folds during vibration, reduces the risks of trauma and balances sub- and supraglottic pressure, with vocal economy; types: tongue and lips vibration; fricative sounds, prolonged /b/, humming, glottic firmness, lips constriction and tube-phonation; they are used in vocal disorders, including hipernasality, in warming and improving vocal practice; phonation in immerse tube with 15cm water should only be used in cases of hypokinetic dysphonia; there is no scientific definition regarding the runtime; the generated positive effects are the improvement of proprioception, of vocal perceptive-auditory and acoustic aspects, and of vocal tract changes; studies performed with magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography verified vocal tract modifications after the tube-phonation technique, such as more extensive central area, firm closure of the velopharyngeal sphincter, decreased velopharyngeal sphincter area, vertical epiglottis, posterior tongue elevation, expansion of the cross-sectional oropharynx and oral cavity areas; studies about the effectiveness of SOVTE were not found.
Voice; Voice Training; Voice Quality
