Discriminant analysis applied to formants of vowels in Castellano dialect during the phonation with prosthesis and esophageal voice after total laryngectomy

The objective of the present work consists, in analyzing if there is statistically significant differences between certain quantitative variables of acoustic parameters of the voice, in three samples of individuals, using a discriminative analysis. The study groups are formed by: 20 patients with total laringectomy and esophageal voice, 20 patients with total laringectomy and tracheoesophageal voice with phonatory prosthesis, and 20 normal individuals. We analyzed the energy, bandwidth and frequency of the four first formants of the five Castilian vowels in the context of an established phrase. Based on our results the method of discriminative analysis of the used variables is valid to establish differences between the three studied groups; that is they display their own characteristics from the acoustic point of view. This method allows us to affirm that the tracheoesophageal voice does not come closer to the normal voice that the esophageal voice does.     

Acoustic and perceptual evaluation of voice and speech quality: a study of patients with laryngeal cancer treated with laryngectomy vs irradiation

OBJECTIVE: To compare voice and speech function in patients who underwent laryngectomy with that of 2 control groups. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study comparing acoustic and temporal variables with perceptual evaluations in 3 subject groups. SETTING: University hospital in G?teborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Two groups of patients with laryngeal carcinoma were examined: 12 male patients who had laryngectomy and were using a tracheoesophageal prosthesis and 12 male patients treated with radical radiotherapy who had a preserved larynx. The third group consisted of 10 normal controls without laryngeal disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acoustic variables were fundamental frequency, absolute fundamental frequency perturbation, speech rate, and maximum phonation time. Perceptual evaluation included 15 listeners' perceptual evaluation and the patients' self-assessment of speech intelligibility, voice quality, and speech acceptability. RESULTS: No significant acoustic or temporal differences were found between the laryngectomy and radical radiotherapy groups. There was a significant difference between the patient groups in perceptual evaluation. Both groups of patients differed from normal controls in acoustic and temporal measures, where the laryngectomy group generally deviated more from the normal controls than the patient group treated with radiotherapy. There was a weak, but significant, correlation between absolute fundamental frequency perturbation and perceived voice quality. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptual evaluations could indicate significant differences between the patients who underwent laryngectomy and irradiated patients, where the acoustic analysis failed to reflect these differences. Both patient groups could be distinguished according to acoustic and temporal measures when compared with normal controls. The acoustic analyses were more sufficient in voices without severe dysfunction.     

Primary tracheoesophageal puncture vs esophageal speech.

We studied the cost-efficiency profile of tracheoesophageal puncture with prosthesis insertion in alaryngeal patients who were given the opportunity of choosing between esophageal and prosthetic voice. A primary tracheoesophageal puncture was made in 28 patients who were undergoing total laryngectomy. Five of the patients were excluded from the study because of failure to phonate correctly with their prostheses. The remainder were given esophageal speech instruction while they were using tracheoesophageal speech, and were permanently allowed to shift between both techniques of alaryngeal voice. Seventy percent of the patients (16/23) left the prosthetic voice to use only esophageal speech, even though they agreed that prosthetic voice was superior to esophageal voice. The remaining 30% (7/23) continued to use tracheoesophageal speech almost exclusively. In the authors' opinion, primary tracheoesophageal punctures significantly provide both psychological and practical help, as they supply an immediate and clear postoperative voice, and one of every three patients will use them for daily oral communication. Nevertheless, esophageal speech is still the method of voice restoration preferred in our region by those of our patients who managed to learn it.     

Assessment of irregular voices after total and laser surgical partial laryngectomy

OBJECTIVES: To assess the merits of computer-aided voice analysis procedures for very irregular voices of patients after total and laser surgical partial laryngectomy, and to characterize qualitative differences in speech and voice function between these 2 groups of patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University hospital in G?ttingen, Germany PATIENTS: Twenty-nine patients with advanced laryngeal carcinomas (T3-T4; according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer, TNM staging system, stages III-IVa) were examined: 18 patients with tracheoesophageal speech (voice prosthesis) after total laryngectomy and 11 patients who underwent partial transoral resection of the larynx (by means of laser microsurgery without surgical voice rehabilitation). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech intelligibility was measured by a standardized and validated telephone test, and voice quality was determined by 2 computerized voice analysis systems (multidimensional voice program and G?ttingen hoarseness diagram). RESULTS: The telephone test demonstrated a significantly better speech performance of the patients who had undergone organ-preserving surgery. The voices of both patient groups were too irregular for a qualitative differentiation with the multidimensional voice program. The multidimensional voice program results also failed to show significant correlations to speech intelligibility. The G?ttingen hoarseness diagram showed significantly more regular voices in patients with partial laryngectomy than total laryngectomy. These results were correlated with speech intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The G?ttingen hoarseness diagram is suitable for a qualitative assessment even of irregular voices. Voice prosthesis offers a voice quality that at best approaches that of patients with partial laryngectomy.     

Acoustic evaluation of Isshiki type III thyroplasty for treatment of mutational voice disorders.

The goal of this study was to determine if there are acoustical differences between pre- and post-surgical voices and to evaluate the effectiveness of Isshiki type III thyroplasty in 11 male patients with mutational voice disorders. Acoustic measures were obtained both pre- and post-operatively. A comparison of pre- and post-operative fundamental frequency (Fo), voice frequencies, and vocal intensity obtained from a sustained vowel /i/ during different phonatory tasks was made. The results from the present study demonstrated that after operation the voice frequencies were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The vocal intensity tended to reduce slightly as the voice frequency lowered. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the pre- and post-operative measures of vocal intensity (p > 0.5). The pre-operative high pitched voices of all the male patients were lowered up to the normal value by the type III thyroplasty.     

嗓音的客观多参数分析与主观听觉分析相关性的研究

目的 探讨嗓音的客观多参数检测与主观听觉评估的相关性,建立嗓音客观多参数评估模式,实现嗓音评估的客观化、数据化。方法 声音样本采自135例声音嘶哑患者和29例嗓音正常者。客观检测采用法国开发的“EVA”嗓音工作站,测试对象发长元音／a：／时,检测下列参数：基频(F0)、音强(intensity)、基频微扰(jitter)、信噪比(signal-to-noise ratio,SNR)、Lyapunov系数、口腔气流量(oral airflow,OAF)、音域(range)及最大发声时间(maximum phonalory time,MPT);发／pa/音时,检测声门下压(estimated subglottic pressure,ESGP)。主观听觉评估采用日本言语语音学会声音嘶哑评估GRBAS系统中的总嘶哑度(grade,G)4级评估标准。所有受试者以自然的音调及音强读一段统一的标准文字,听评委由4名嗓音学家组成。结果 应用判别分析方法,建立了7参数客观评估模式(音域、Lya-punov系数、声门下压、最大发声时间、口腔气流量、信噪比和基频)。客观评估结果与主观评估结果的一致性达到84％。结论 嗓音的客观检测是多参数的,客观评估能够反映出主观听觉印象。     

Aerodynamic findings in esophageal voice

OBJECTIVE: To define the perceptive and aerodynamic characteristics of esophageal voice in relation to different rehabilitation modalities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study comparing perceptive and aerodynamic variables in 3 subject groups. SETTING: Referral center. SUBJECTS: A total of 19 subjects who underwent total laryngectomy were divided into groups A and B. Group A consisted of 13 subjects (who required speech therapy)-8 good speakers (subset A(1) who were >80% intelligible) and 5 mediocre speakers (subset A(2) who were <70% intelligible). Group B consisted of 6 subjects with a tracheoesophageal prosthesis (who were >90% intelligible). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptive variables included phonatory pauses and stomal noise. Aerodynamic variables included maximum phonation time, phonatory flow, phonatory volume, postphonatory volume, intensity, and articulatory pressure. RESULTS: Phonatory pauses and stomal noise statistically differentiated group A from group B and good speakers from mediocre speakers. Phonation time, phonatory volume, and phonatory flow were statistically higher in group B subjects compared with group A subjects. Postphonatory volume was significantly higher in group A. Intraoral pressure and postphonatory volume were statistically higher in subset A(2) subjects compared with subset A(1) subjects while maximum phonation time was significantly higher in subset A(1) subjects compared with subset A(2) subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In subset A(1) subjects a positive ratio between phonatory volume and phonatory flow was maintained with an adequate phonation time. In subset A(2) subjects a reduced phonatory volume was associated with a more rapid dispersion of phonatory flow, lower duration of phonation, and frequent pauses; stomal noise and consonant hyperarticulation worsened the voice performance in this group. In group B subjects the positive ratio between phonatory volume and phonatory flow represented the prerequisite of speech without frequent pauses.     

Nerve transfer versus Teflon injection for vocal cord paralysis: a comparison

Teflon injection for unilateral vocal cord paralysis frequently produces an improved yet breathy voice. Ansa hypoglossi-recurrent laryngeal nerve anastomosis has been performed in five patients. In the four patients discussed in this paper, excellent phonatory quality has been achieved. Electroacoustic analysis indicates that this technique may produce normal phonatory function in paralyzed larynges. There have been no serious side effects or complications in our first five patients. Denervation of the sternothyroid muscle, which results from sectioning its nerve in preparation for suture to the RLN, appears to further improve the voice by medially positioning the vocal cord. Gelfoam paste is injected at the time of nerve transfer to rehabilitate the voice during the 2 months required for nerve regeneration. For younger patients, or those with professional use of their voices, this technique offers superior speech results when compared with Teflon injection.     

Aerodynamic and myoelastic contributions to tracheoesophageal voice production

Five laryngectomized, tracheoesophageal (TE) speakers completed a series of phonatory tasks developed to assess (a) aerodynamic and acoustic properties of TE voice and (b) aerodynamic and myoelastic contributions to the mediation of fundamental frequency change. These TE speakers' voices were characterized by increased trans-source airflow rates, comparable source driving pressures, and decreased airway resistances in comparison with standard esophageal speakers. TE speakers were capable of adjusting their voicing sources on a myoelastic basis to influence Fo change. This result, coupled with findings that confirm aerodynamic contributions to TE phonation, are interpreted to suggest that TE voice production should be regarded as an aerodynamic-myoelastic event. Findings are integrated with existing data to highlight fundamental differences among TE, esophageal, and normal voice production.     

Voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy using the Provox voice prosthesis

Esophageal speech is the first choice for vocal rehabilitation in laryngectomized patients. However, shunt speech is a needed alternative for patients who cannot succeed at esophageal speech. Many kinds of voice prostheses, with good results, have been reported. Provox was selected for 15 laryngectomized patients who were treated in our department. Voice rehabilitation was successful in 13 patients. However, removal of the prosthesis was required in one patient because of stomal stenosis. Voice rehabilitation was not successful in one patient who exhibited esophageal stenosis. The rate of voice rehabilitation was not influenced by the extent of surgery, the dose of radiation, etc.. The maximum phonation time was more than 10 minutes in the 13 patients who succeeded at shunt speech. Prosthetic rehabilitation was requested by two patients who had been successful at esophageal speech. These results suggest that prosthetic voice rehabilitation may be indicated for a wide range of conditions.     

Phonatory air flow characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia and muscle tension dysphonia.

The purpose of this study was to determine if phonatory air flow characteristics differed among women with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD), muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and normal phonation. Phonatory air flow signals were gathered during [pa] syllable repetitions. Mean phonatory air flow, coefficients of variation, and the presence of large air flow perturbations (75 ml/s or more) were examined for the three groups of speakers. There was no significant difference in mean phonatory air flow across groups, and very large intersubject variation in mean phonatory air flow occurred for both the AdSD and MTD groups. Coefficients of variation were similar for the groups of women with MTD and normal phonation but were significantly larger for the group with AdSD. Air flow perturbations were common with AdSD and rare with MTD. Relatively large coefficients of variation and air flow perturbations of at least 75 ml/s did occur for some women with normal voices who were 70 years of age or older. It appears that intrasubject variability in phonatory air flow may aid in the differentiation of AdSD and MTD when used in conjunction with other elements of a thorough voice evaluation. However, the potential contribution of aging to increased intrasubject variability in phonatory air flow must be considered when interpreting findings.     

Quantitative voice analysis in the assessment of bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Bulbar and pseudobulbar symptoms are diagnostic criteria of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One of the earliest symptoms of bulbar involvement is voice deterioration. Until now voice assessment in ALS patients has been done mainly by perceptual analysis. The objective parameters, including acoustic measures, one aerodynamic measure and the maximal phonation time, have been measured only in a few small series of patients. The first purpose of this prospective study was to determine which vocal parameters discriminate ALS patients with bulbar involvement from control patients. The second was to identify sensitive parameters for early detection of voice deterioration due to bulbar involvement in pre-symptomatic ALS patients. The voices of 63 female ALS patients, including 40 with bulbar symptoms (sALS patients) and 23 without bulbar symptoms (aALS patients), were studied using an objective voice analysis system that allows simultaneous analysis of acoustic and aerodynamic parameters. Measurements were compared with those obtained in 40 normal female subjects (control patients). Five of eight acoustic parameters were significantly different among the three groups: jitter, coefficient of variation for frequency, shimmer, number of harmonics, and maximum phonatory frequency range. Three aerodynamic parameters, phonatory airflow, cycle-to-cycle variation for phonatory airflow, and coefficient of variation for phonatory airflow were significantly different between sALS patients and control patients. No aerodynamic parameter allowed discrimination between aALS patients and control patients. This study shows that acoustic parameters are more sensitive than aerodynamic parameters for early detection of bulbar involvement. Nevertheless, the measurements used can predict bulbar involvement in 73% of those in the sALS group, but only in 52% of those in the aALS group.     

Consistency of voice produced by patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a preliminary investigation.

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) is an idiopathic focal laryngeal movement disorder causing involuntary and uncontrollable spasms in the vocal fold musculature, primarily during voice onset. Although phonatory instability has been reported through clinical observation and empirical study, no examination of phonatory performance consistency in ADSD has been done. Phonatory instability refers to phonatory unsteadiness and has been previously defined by the presence of acoustic aberrations during speech. Performance consistency pertains to variations in these phonatory aberrations across repeated trials or over time. This study focused on the phonatory performance consistency of those with ADSD by using three acoustic measures of phonatory instability. Twenty patients with ADSD were recorded during three trials of reading a standard passage. Eight of the 20 patients were recorded twice during two separate recording sessions held approximately 6 months apart.The number of phonatory breaks, frequency shifts, and aperiodic segments were the dependent measures. Data were subjected to inferential statistical analysis to test for significant differences among the measures in two conditions: across three trials produced within one recording session and across multiple trials produced during two distinct recording sessions. No significant differences were found for any of the measures either as a function of trials recorded on the same day or across the two recording sessions. The data suggest a need for describing phonatory instability and performance consistency as separate entities with regard to neurological voice disorders.     

食管发音患者的语音学分析

目的 观察喉全切除食管发音患者的语音声学特征。方法对16例喉全切除食管发音患者进行语音声学分析及最大发声时程的测定，并以健康男性作对照。同时比较食管发音者和健康人的声波周期性。结果同健康男性比较，食管发音患者的语音声学参数除振幅外，基频、基频微扰、振幅微扰、谐噪比、标准化噪声能量均有统计学差异，且声波周期性差。结论食管发音的声学特性与正常男性相比有显著差别，声音稳定性差、声时短、音调低钝，但食管发音仍是喉全切除术后患者获得发音的一种重要途径。     

Voice onset time for female trained and untrained singers during speech and singing

The purpose of this study was to examine the voice onset times of female trained and untrained singers during spoken and sung tasks. Thirty females were digitally recorded speaking and singing short phrases containing the English stop consonants /p/ and /b/ in the word-initial position. Voice onset time was measured for each phoneme and statistically analyzed. Mixed-ANOVAs revealed significantly longer voice onset time durations during speech for /p/ as compared to sung productions. No significant differences between the trained singers and untrained singers were observed. In addition, no task differences occurred for the /b/ productions. The results indicated that the type of phonatory task influences VOT for voiceless stops in females. LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of this activity, the reader will be able to (1) understand articulatory and phonatory differences between spoken and sung productions; (2) understand the articulatory and phonatory timing differences between trained singers and untrained singers during spoken and sung productions.     

The Influence of Stoma Occlusion on Aspects of Tracheoesophageal Voice

In this study,speech of 21 laryngectomized patients is investigated under 2 different stoma occlusion conditions, i.e. direct digital occlusion of the stoma (by thumb or finger), and digital occlusion (by finger) via a special heat and moisture exchanger with speech valve (Provox^® Stomafilter). For both conditions, acoustical analyses of voice quality (various pitch, amplitude, tremor and harmonicity measures) were performed on a sustained /a/, the mean maximum phonation time was calculated, and a phonetogram was made. Acoustical analysis was possible in 13 of the 21 voices (for the other voices, the pitch was too low or the voice was too aperiodic), but no statistical significant differences were found for any of the acoustical parameters studied. However, the maximum phonation time was significantly longer, and the dynamic range significantly larger, under the Stomafilter occlusion condition. The maximum phonation time showed a relevant improvement in 57% of the patients, while the dynamic range showed a relevant improvement in 35% of the patients. In total, 75% of the patients experience an improvement in one or both of these speech characteristics when using the Stomafilter occlusion. It can be concluded that optimal stoma occlusion by means of a specialized device has a positive influence on two relevant parameters of prosthetic voice production: maximum phonation time and dynamic loudness range.     

气管食管裂隙状瘘发音重建术的声学分析

目的 客观评价气管食管裂隙状瘘发音重建术后的发音效果，并以此指导临床工作。方法 对喉全切除术后I期与Ⅱ期气管食管裂隙状瘘发音患者、食管发音患者、安装Blom—Singer发音钮患者以及健康人分别进行语音测试，分析7项客观声学参数，比较发音效果。结果 经统计学t检验，气管食管裂隙状瘘语音最长发音时间短于健康人，明显长于食管音，但和Blom—Singer发音钮语音差异无显著性；其声音的强度和健康人及Blom—Singer发音钮差异无显著性，明显高于食管音；其基频明显低于健康人；其频率微扰和振幅微扰明显高于健康人，而明显低于食管发音，与Blom—Singer发音钮语音差异无显著性；其共振峰频率和能量仅在F1共振峰能量上明显高于食管音，其余各频率上差异均无显著性。虽然喉全切除I期气管食管裂隙状瘘发音重建术中制作帽状气室，而Ⅱ期发音重建术中不制作帽状气室，但两者语音声学分析各参数间差异均无显著性。结论气管食管瘘语音比食管音接近健康人语音，能满足日常生活需要。气管食管裂隙状瘘发音重建术中不制作帽状气室不影响术后的发音。     

Time series analysis of glottal airflow in normal and pathological phonation

Time series analysis of glottal airflow was carried out on 26 normal controls and 40 patients with voice disorders, using a modification of Isshiki's original technique which uses a hot-wire flowmeter, taking cycle-by-cycle fluctuations into consideration. The mean flow rate and mean AC/DC were shown to have significant differences among normal and patient groups. The standard deviations of AC/DC and AC/DC perturbation were calculated from the AC/DC value of 50 cycles and shown not to vary significantly among the normal and patient groups. The relationship between AC/DC and perceptual impression of voice was also studied among 20 selected patients with breathy voices. Using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, this relationship was found to have statistical significance (P<.05).     

Pitch deviation analysis of pathological voice in connected speech

OBJECTIVES: This study compares normal and pathologic voices using a novel voice analysis algorithm that examines pitch deviation during connected speech. The study evaluates the clinical potential of the algorithm as a mechanism to distinguish between normal and pathologic voices using connected speech. METHODS: Adult vocalizations from normal subjects and patients with known benign free-edge vocal fold lesions were analyzed. Recordings had been previously obtained in quiet under controlled conditions. Two phrases and sustained /a/ were recorded per subject. The subject populations consisted of 10 normal and 31 abnormal subjects. The voice analysis algorithm generated 2-dimensional patterns that represent pitch deviation in time and under variable window widths. Measures were collected from these patterns for window widths between 10 and 250 ms. For comparison, jitter and shimmer measures were collected from sustained /a/ by means of the Computerized Speech Lab (CSL). A t-test and tests of sensitivity and specificity assessed discrimination between normal and abnormal populations. RESULTS: More than 58% of the measures collected from connected speech outperformed the CSL jitter and shimmer measures in population discrimination. Twenty-five percent of the experimental measures (including /a/) indicated significantly different populations (p < .01%). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that the algorithm distinguishes between normal and abnormal populations by use of samples of connected speech.     

Comparative study of vocal function after near-total laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess vocal function after near-total laryngectomy (NTL) and to compare that with after vertical hemilaryngectomy (VHL), both of which use the laryngeal mucosa as the vibratory tissue. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively evaluated 29 patients, 11 of whom underwent NTL and 18 of whom underwent VHL. However, 2 patients failed to speak and 1 patient's voice sample was lost following NTL, so we analyzed the voices of 8 patients who underwent NTL and 18 patients who underwent VHL. METHODS: Vocal function was examined by acoustic and aerodynamic analysis. Acoustic analysis involved the evaluation of pitch, intensity, pitch perturbation quotient, amplitude perturbation quotient, and normalized noise energy. In aerodynamic analysis, we studied the mean airflow rate, vocal efficiency index (alternating current/direct current [AC/DC]), and maximum phonation time. RESULTS: Vocal function except pitch after either NTL or VHL had much variability, but the results following each procedure did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences between vocal function following NTL and VHL. Fiberscopic examination of the mucosa of the arytenoid was observed to vibrate in patients who underwent NTL, so that the phonatory mechanism after NTL resembled that after VHL.