Q. The Speech Products Master Upgrade I just received has two discs. Do I need to use both?

A. Beginning with the 3.4 software release that supports the Windows 7 operating system, a two-disc Speech Products Master Upgrade is being delivered. As always, the Speech Products Master Upgrade must be run before installing new KayPENTAX speech products’ software (CSL/Visi-Pitch and Options, Nasometer, or PAS), if there is existing KayPENTAX speech software on the computer. Service Pack 1 is only required if the installed KayPENTAX software is less than version 3.3. If the existing software is 3.3 or higher, run Service Pack 2, then install the new software. In all situations, Service Pack 2 must be run after installing new software in order to load updates that were not included on the installation discs.

Q. It is my understanding that pediatric normative data is now available for the Phonatory Aerodynamic System. How do I get it?

A. Yes, pediatric normative data is available for the KayPENTAX Phonatory Aerodynamic System(PAS). This data was obtained from a study conducted by Barbara Weinrich, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, and Susan Baker Brehm, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. A paper detailing this study is being submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. KayPENTAX customers who own a PAS can request the Pediatric Normative Data disc which provides normative data profiles that can be installed into the PAS software.

Normative data is available for the following PAS protocols: Vital Capacity, Maximum Sustained Phonation, Comfortable Sustained Phonation, Variation in Sound Pressure Level, and Voicing Efficiency. The average and standard deviation for each parameter are provided in the normative profile. Normative profiles are presented for three age groups of males and females, for a total of six profiles. The age groups are 6-9, 10-13, and 14-17. Although normative data provides a reference point for interpreting patient data, clinicians should consider a patient’s performance in comparison to the PAS norms in conjunction with all
diagnostic findings.

Q. I noticed that the KayPENTAX Color High-Speed Video (CHSV) application is capable of saving exam videos using various compression schemes. Which is the best one to use, and why?

A. When saving the exam, the application allows the user to select a video compression codec (coder/decoder); typically, the videos are saved with no compression to preserve image quality. However, the exam file is very large, especially if the entire 4-second recording is saved, and may not be well-suited for a presentation. For PowerPoint, it is recommended that you save a small clip showing only the portion of interest, using the Cinepak CODEC by Radius compression scheme. The file format will still be AVI, but the file size will be reduced by a factor of about 16:1. This AVI file can then be embedded into your PowerPoint presentation.

Q. Do you offer a flexible endoscope that is smaller in size for children I see in the clinic?

A. Yes, the PENTAX endoscope, Model FNL-7RP3, is a flexible nasopharyngoscope with a distal tip outer diameter of 2.4 mm for ease of insertion, and is ideally suited for the pediatric population.