Which is considered the oldest technique for viewing the vocal folds?

The laryngeal mirror is recognized as the oldest technique for viewing the vocal folds and was widely used before the development of more advanced technologies. This method involves using a small, angled mirror that fits into the patient's mouth, allowing a clinician to reflect light onto the vocal folds and visualize them indirectly. This technique dates back to the late 19th century when it was first introduced by physicians such as Manuel Garcia, who pioneered its use in clinical practice.

In contrast, stroboscopy, while a modern and widely used technique for observing vocal fold vibrations in detail, was developed much later and relies on strobe lights to create an optical illusion of slow motion. Electropalatography involves measuring tongue position and contact against an artificial palate, which is unrelated to visualizing the vocal folds. Cinematography, although it captures video, is not specifically a method for viewing the vocal folds in a clinical setting in the way that the laryngeal mirror does. Therefore, the laryngeal mirror stands as the oldest of these methods for the direct visualization of the vocal folds.