Acoustic correlates of pathologic voice types

Listeners classified 49 samples of vowels /a/ and /i/ on the basis of four voice types: hoarse, breathy, strained, and normal. The vowels were analyzed acoustically for mean harmonic/noise differences in four spectral regions, average fundamental frequency, natural logarithm of fundamental frequency, and jitter. Discriminant analysis showed that classifications of voice type were made with 80% accuracy using three acoustic parameters: (a) mean harmonic/noise difference factor (1-3.5 kHz), (b) natural log of fundamental frequency, and (c) vowel type. The significance of these particular acoustic parameters for the perception and classification of voice types is discussed.     

The impact of tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy on speech and voice

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in acoustic features of speech and voice after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. METHODS: Before and 1 month after surgery the following parameters were estimated: average of fundamental frequency (Fo), Jitter percent (Jitt), Shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), voice turbulence index (VTI), soft phonation index (SPI), degree of voiceless (DUV), degree of voice breaks (DVB) and peak amplitude variation (vAm); as an evaluation of nasal resonance, speech articulation and voice handicap index (VHI). RESULTS: The results were statistically evaluated using the unpaired t-test. Probability values below 0.05 were regarded as significant. One month after surgery, our data showed significant (P<0.05) improvements of the acoustic and other parameters in the children submitted to adenotonsillectomy: Fo (176Hz vs. 206Hz, after sustained vowels: 206Hz vs. 192Hz; 148Hz vs. 168Hz; 171Hz vs. 161Hz after balanced sentences), Jitt (0.85% vs. 1.81% to 0.82% vs. 1.81%), Shimmer (3.41% vs. 5.81% to 4.89% vs. 5.73%), NHR (0.16 vs. 0.42 to 0.29 vs. 0.39), VTI (0.05 vs. 0.38 to 0.28 vs. 0.37), SPI (14.78 vs. 21.14-19.89 vs. 21.89), DUV (0% vs. 0.44% to 0% vs. 0.48%), DVB (0% vs. 0.42% to 0% vs. 0.42%) and vAm (8.93% vs. 23.89% to 8.89% vs. 24.25%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the role of adenotonsillectomy in the improvement of voice and speech quality and of objective evaluation of speech and voice in the correct management of these children.     

男性昆曲演员歌唱共振峰14年动态对比研究

目的对男性昆曲演员与未成为昆曲演员者变声期中嗓音声样之歌唱共振峰(singingformant,Fs)进行回顾性研究,对昆曲演员变声期与成年后Fs的动态对比,了解男性昆曲演员嗓音变化特点。方法1985—1986年对北方昆曲剧院学员班21例男性学员采集声样,并保留录音磁带至今。2000年对其中成为昆曲演员的7例再次采样,均输入计算机,进行嗓音分析,了解其Fs变化规律。结果成为昆曲演员的男学员变声期时国际音标中元音/a/声样均有Fs,且频带宽,声能强,未成为昆曲演员的学员则相反。昆曲演员14年前变声期的Fs与成年后相比,数值降低,采用配对t检验,t=2 9600,P<0 05,差异有统计学意义。结论演员Fs的有无,以及声能的强弱是衡量演员声乐水平的重要客观参数。     

Changing the vocal characteristics of a postoperative transsexual patient: a longitudinal study

The vocal characteristics of a 63-year-old individual who underwent male-to-female sex reassignment surgery were evaluated. Treatment was designed to alter inappropriate male voice characteristics. Speech goals were to (1) encourage use of successively higher pitch levels, and (2) modify tongue carriage to change resonance. After 11 months of therapy, average fundamental frequency for /i, a, u/ vowels changed from 110 to 205 Hz. Also, second formant frequency values changed remarkably for each of these vowels, with the greatest frequency change being 291 Hz for /i/. These acoustic differences could account for the perception of femininity in her posttreatment voice. Maintenance of these acoustic features was found five years posttreatment.     

短声作为刺激声同侧声发射阈测定之临床价值

OBJECTIVE: To define that click can substitute for pure tone as a stimulus to measure ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds, and to find out the effect of probe frequency on acoustic reflex thresholds. METHOD: Using middle ear analyzer (GSI 33, version 2), we measured 23 normal voluntary participants (46 ears) for getting the pure-tone generated ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds at different probe frequency and the click evoked ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds at click rate 100/s and 180/s for every ear. RESULT: For pure tone, the ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, were (84.35 +/- 6.96) dB, (84.65 +/- 5.93) dB, (87.96 +/- 6.36) dB by using 226 Hz probe; (93.13 +/- 6.54) dB, (92.70 +/- 6.33) dB, (93.35 +/- 5.99) dB by using 678 Hz probe; (86.52 +/- 4.72) dB, (87.48 +/- 5.00) dB, (88.30 +/- 6.16) dB by using 1000 Hz probe. For click, the ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds at click rate 100/s and 180/s were (89.78 +/- 6.83) dB, (92.07 +/- 7.42) dB by using 226 Hz probe; (90.44 +/- 6.76) dB, (90.65 +/- 6.38) dB by using 678 Hz probe; (88.04 +/- 6.87) dB, (88.69 +/- 7.42) dB by using 1000 Hz probe. The acoustic reflex thresholds for 678 Hz probe were higher than those obtained with 226 Hz and 1000 Hz probes. CONCLUSION: There were no artifact appearance while stimulus had been click at low rate, so click can be used for the measurement of ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds.     

Effects of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with Harmonic Scalpel on speech and voice

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in acoustic features of speech and voice after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with the Harmonic Scalpel (HS), using the multidimensional voice program (MDVP) in conjunction with other tests. Before and 6 months after surgery, phonetically balanced sentences and sustained vowels a, e, i were carried out and digitalized with MDVP in all the patients, as an evaluation of nasal resonance (trough the Glatzel and the Gutzmann tests), speech articulation and voice handicap index (VHI). These parameters were estimated: average of fundamental frequency, Jitter, Shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, voice turbulence index, soft phonation index, degree of voiceless, degree of voice breaks and peak amplitude variation. Six months after surgery, improvements in all the acoustic parameters, in nasalance and VHI were achieved. In our experiences UPPP, with the HS, improves speech and voice in patients affected by snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.     

语前聋成人人工耳蜗植入者嗓音的声学分析

目的观察成人语前聋人工耳蜗植入者嗓音的特点,为这类患者的植入及嗓音矫治提供依据。方法分别对28例语前聋成人人工耳蜗植入者、18例语前聋者和10例正常听力者的元音[a ]3s稳定段进行声学分析,分析内容包括基频、第一、第二共振峰、嗓音声学参数频率微扰商、振幅微扰商、谐噪比。对3组结果进行比较。结果人工耳蜗组的基频为(175 42±25 31)Hz,较耳聋组的(210 84±54 30)Hz有下降(P=0 02)。人工耳蜗组共振峰位置[F2 =(1264 64±152 19)Hz]比耳聋组[F2=(1422 44±232 37)Hz]更接近于正常听力组(P=0 02)。频率微扰商在人工耳蜗组(2 09±1 15)较耳聋组(5 32±4 29)更接近于正常听力组(P=0 006)。人工耳蜗组和耳聋组的嗓音表现出较大的个体差异。结论从嗓音声学特点的角度而言,成人语前聋人工耳蜗植入者可以有限地获益于人工耳蜗植入。由于他们的语言识别能力远远差于儿童和成人语后聋人工耳蜗植入者,其总体效果有限,对这类患者的植入应该慎重开展。     

北京昆曲剧院学员变声期及变声后成才者嗓音学特征对比研究

目的：对同一组研究对象变声期及成年后嗓音参数动态比较研究，以指导嗓音评价及戏校教学。方法：选取北京昆曲剧院学员班36名学员变声期前后声样，以及14年后该班成才学员中的10名跟踪采样，进行计算机嗓音动态比较分析研究。结果：变声期男女学员基频无显著性差异。变声期与成年后对比[a][i]基频有显著性差异，共振蜂F1，F2，F3无统计学差异。结论：通过动态嗓音分析研究，我们可以配合戏校老师进行专业人才选拔、学员行当及声部划分、学员音质及教学效果评价。     

Acoustic characteristics of different target vowels during the laryngeal telescopy

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the acoustic characteristics of target vowels phonated in normal voice persons while performing laryngeal telescopy. The acoustic characteristics are compared to show the extent of possible difference to speculate their impact on phonation function.

Methods

Thirty-four male subjects aged 20–39 years with normal voice were included in this study. The target vowels were /i/ and /?/. Recording of voice samples was done under natural phonation and during laryngeal telescopy. The acoustic analysis included the parameters of fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio.

Results

The sound of a target vowel /?/ was perceived identical in more than 90% of the subjects by the examiner and speech language pathologist during the telescopy. Both /i/ and /?/ sounds showed significant difference when compared with the results under natural phonation. There was no significant difference between /i/ and /?/ during the telescopy.

Conclusion

The present study showed that change in target vowels during laryngeal telescopy makes no significant difference in the acoustic characteristics. The results may lead to the speculation that the phonation mechanism was not affected significantly by different vowels during the telescopy. This study may suggest that in the principle of comfortable phonation, introduction of the target vowels /i/ and /?/ is practical.