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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Four-month-old infants process own mother's voice faster than unfamiliar voices--electrical signs of sensitization in infant brain.

Four-month-old infants heard their own mother's voice and a voice of an unfamiliar female as "oddballs" in a stream of acoustic information. The neuronal processing from 50 to 500 ms (as evaluated with event-related brain potentials, ERPs) was expected to be obligatory and from 500 to 900 ms to include cognitive processing. There was a clear shift in the processing speed between the mother's and unfamiliar voices at around 350 ms. While earlier obligatory ERP components occurred at significantly shorter latency to the mother's voice, later endogenous components were significantly delayed relative to the unfamiliar voice. The amplitude differences between the experimental stimuli were clearest for the last ERP potential, which presumably includes largest cognitive component. The size of the potential was significantly lower for mother than for unfamiliar voice. The results suggest that the behaviorally well-documented mutual sensitization between infant and mother and the special importance of output from mother is seen as an enhanced arousal to mother's voice and as signs of a clear memory template for own mother's voice at very early age.

Attention↗
PubMed2005

[Screen for the position in influx of airflow of esophageal voice and the study of the new voice way].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the best position of the prosthesis after total laryngectomy and the possible way to improve. METHOD: Thirty-three patients with vocal prosthesis after total laryngectomy through April 1994 and July 2004 were selected. Among them, 10 cases were selected from 12 nonspeakers were defined as the experiment group; 10 cases with the same gender and nationality and closed occupation, age, the type of pathology,ways of the operation were selected from the rest cases who had got voice as the contrasted group. And intraesophageal pressure measurements, esophageal insufflation testing, esophageal barium solution x-ray, laryngofiberscopy were performed. Paired-samples t-test was adopted. RESULT: The distances from nostril to the entrance of esophagus, the best vocal position and the level of vocal prosthesis have no significant difference between two groups. The esophageal insufflation testing showed there was no one case got the voice in the experiment group and there were 7 cases got voice in the contrasted group. The best voice position of the experiment group were at 3.6 cm above the prosthesis, and the contrasted group were at 2 cm above the prosthesis. The pressure of superior esophagus suggested that the pressure of 1 cm below the entrance of esophagus and 2 cm below the prosthesis were lower and there were no significant difference (P > 0.05) between two groups, but the pressures of the level of prosthesis were higher and there were significant difference (P < 0.01) between them. CONCLUSION: The pressure at the level of the prosthesis in experiment group were more higher than the contrasted group was the main factors for failure to get voice. The best voice position could be found in both groups below the entrance of the esophagus, and below it was the level of the prosthesis with the highest pressure which could effectively prevent the air from flowing into the stomach. Allow the air flow into the position by operations and the reform of the prosthesis could solve the problem of could not get the voice and improve the rate of success to get voice.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Increase in the abdominal respiratory movements during the sudden passage from a conversational voice to a loud voice].

UNLABELLED: The passage of the simple conversational voice to a loud voice is accompanied by an increase in the muscular tensions as well as increase in the mobilized volumes of air. OBJECTIVES: We sought to know if these additional volumes were mobilized rather by a thoracic breathing or an abdominal breathing and if this effort were accompanied by a reduction in the variability of the movements. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study presented is a prospective experimental study undertaken on healthy subjects (10 subjects) of which we analyzed the spontaneous vocal behavior (conversation with the experimenter) in the medium of vocal spots lures (production of vowels) in a calm environment allowing a conversational voice (condition 1) and in a noisy environment obliging the subjects abruptly to use a strong voice (condition 2). Thoracic and abdominal volumes were recorded using belts provided with pressure pick-ups, while the voice was synchronized with the recordings. RESULTS: The results show a reduction in the number of rheses realized with abdominal volumes and a reduction in the abdominal volumes mobilized in condition 2, testifying to a preferential use of thoracic breathing in loud voice. They also show a reduction in the number of movements of the inspiratory type (increase in the thoracic diameter or reduction in the abdominal diameter) during the phonatory phase in condition 2, which testifies to a reduction in the variability of the strategies used by the subjects. CONCLUSION: The sudden passage to a loud voice because of the appearance of an ambient noise leads to an increase of the use of thoracic breathing, which is in agreement with the concept of voice of distress or of emergency suggested by Le Huche.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2005

Muscle tension dysphonia in children: Voice characteristics and outcome of voice therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The main object of this study is to elucidate the voice characteristics and the efficacy of voice therapy in children with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). METHODS: A retrospective file review was undertaken of eight Korean male children diagnosed as having MTD. All subjects received perceptual, acoustical and laryngoscopic evaluation before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Markedly strained and breathy voices were detected in all patients. Pitch breaks and/or inadequately high or low speaking fundamental frequencies were noticed in five subjects. Laryngoscopic evaluation revealed anteroposterior contraction, false vocal fold approximation, decreased vibration of true vocal folds and incomplete glottal closure. Notably, seven out of eight subjects had bilateral vocal nodules. Voice therapy was focused on the awareness, relaxation, respiration and easy-onset phonation to reduce the tension around the laryngeal muscles. A few sessions of voice therapy resulted in dramatic improvement of their voice quality and pitch adjustment. Hyper-contraction of the supraglottic structures was also relieved. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the proper diagnosis of MTD in children warrants prompt and favorable responses to voice therapy regardless of coexistence of vocal nodules.

Child↗
PubMed2002

[Mechanical ileus caused by a Provox voice prosthesis -- an "iatrogenic" enteral complication in voice prosthesis rehabilitation of laryngectomees].

BACKGROUND: During the exchange of a defect Provox-I voice prosthesis followed by an insertion of a Provox-II voice prosthesis the esophageal part of the prosthesis often is pushed into the esophagus, as the enteral passage of the prosthesis was thought to be less traumatic for the voice shunt in comparison to a complete extraction of the stiff esophageal flange through the tracheostoma. This procedure is also recommended in the users video of the ATOS company. CASE: A laryngectomized patient, in whom the change of the voice prosthesis was carried out pushing the esophageal flange of the prosthesis into the esophagus, developed a mechanical ileus, as the voice prosthesis got stuck in Bauhin's valve. This resulted in the necessity of a laparatomy for removal of the voice prosthesis. CONCLUSION: During the replacement of the Provox voice prosthesis it is necessary in all cases that the esophageal remnant of the voice prosthesis either is pulled out of the tracheoesophageal shunt via the tracheostoma or removed with a guide-wire transorally.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Effect of fundamental frequency on medial [+voice]/[-voice] judgments.

Previous research has suggested that the direction of short-duration fundamental frequency (F0) perturbations following consonants helps to signal consonant [+voice]/[-voice] (abbreviated as [voice]) status. It has been proposed that the [voice] cue corresponds to the direction and extent of F0 perturbations relative to the overall intonation contour. A competing view, the low-frequency hypothesis, suggests that F0 participates in a more general way whereby low-frequency energy near the consonant contributes to [+voice] judgments. Listeners identified multiple stimulus series, each varying in voice onset time and ranging from /aga/ to /aka/. The series differed in overall intonation contour as well as in the direction of F0 perturbation relative to that contour. Consistent with one version of the low-frequency hypothesis, the F0 value at voicing onset, rather than the relative direction of the F0 perturbation, was the best predictor of [voice] judgments.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy with the Provox voice prosthesis in South Africa.

A study was undertaken to determine whether the Provox voice prosthesis provides good voice rehabilitation following a total laryngectomy in the urban, suburban and rural populations served by a tertiary referral hospital in South Africa. Between 1995 and 1999, a cohort of 128 patients at Tygerberg Hospital was rehabilitated with the Provox voice prosthesis after laryngectomy. In 104 patients primary placement of the prosthesis was done at the time of the laryngectomy. Mean device life and adverse events were determined. Voice quality was assessed subjectively in 104 patients and objectively in 26 patients. The mean device life was 303 days and adverse events occurred in 16 patients. Subjectively, 77 of 104 patients had a good voice, and objectively 22 of 26 patients had good voice intelligibility. The Provox voice prosthesis provides good voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy, with minimal complications, in the population served by Tygerberg Hospital.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A Q-methodological study of hearing voices: a preliminary exploration of voice hearers' understanding of their experiences.

Using Q-methodology and structured interviews, this preliminary study set out to explore how a diverse range of voice hearers construed their experience of hearing voices. Following factor analysis of 20 completed Q-sorts, six factors emerged. Pejorative media stereotypes about voice hearers were rejected, and despite the dominance of the biomedical model in our culture, on no factor did participants adhere to all of the biomedical concepts. All six factors endorsed some elements of psychological discourse on voice-hearing experiences. It is argued that attempting to understand voice hearers within a single theoretical framework may limit or adversely affect engagement and understanding of an individual. Consistent with previous research, users of mental-health services were more likely to find voices frightening and perceive them as negative experiences than non-users. However, some non-users found managing some of their voices difficult despite having seemingly positive beliefs about the experience of hearing voices. Comment is made on the potential therapeutic implications of this study along with some acknowledgement of its limitations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Acoustic voice analysis. On documentation of voice rehabilitation after laser surgery laryngeal carcinoma resection].

Following curative minimal-invasive laser resection of T1-T3 laryngeal carcinomas, patients were subjected to an intensive voice rehabilitation. Therapy was effected twice a day for approximately 2 months, utilizing the concept of functional voice therapy. Before and after rehabilitation, acoustic analyses were made by using two different computer-supported measuring systems: (1) the "multidimensional voice program" (Kay Elementrics Corp.) and (2) a novel software program developed in Göttingen that includes a new voice quality parameter based on correlations between frequency bands. Acoustic analyses showed superiority of the glottal versus supraglottal compensatory phonation. Findings showed that not all acoustic parameters equally documented voice improvement after rehabilitation. The standard deviation of fundamental frequency was the only parameter showing a significant post-therapeutic improvement. A further suitable acoustic method proved to be the voice quality parameter that has been newly introduced by us. In contrast to analogous parameters of other methods, this approach is independent of the exact periodicity of the glottal excitation function, thus permitting reliable results to be obtained even with aphonic or heavily dysphonic voices.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Poor voice quality in future elite vocal performers and professional voice users.

The voice quality of 86 occupational voice users, i.e., students of a high school for audiovisual communication, was assessed by means of a multidimensional test battery containing: the GRBAS scale, videolaryngostroboscopy, maximum phonation time, jitter, lowest intensity, highest frequency, dysphonia severity index (DSI), and voice handicap index (VHI). In a questionnaire on daily habits the prevalence of smoking, eating habits, and vocal abuse were recorded. A comparison of the voice characteristics of the future occupational voice users with a control group revealed significant differences. The results of the VHI and the DSI of these students revealed significantly worse scores than the score of a control group characterized by no vocal complaints. Moreover, the questionnaire on daily habits showed that the future elite vocal performers and professional voice users take less precautions for the care of their voices. These findings support the importance of a good balanced vocal coaching.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of instrumental voice evaluation with perceptual voice analysis using a modified visual analog scale.

Various rating scales have been used for perceptual voice analysis including ordinal (ORD) scales and visual analog (VA) scales. The purpose of this study was to determine the most suitable scale for studies using perceptual voice analysis as a gold standard for validation of objective analysis protocols. The study was carried out on 74 female voice samples from 68 dysphonic patients and 6 controls. A panel of 4 raters with experience in perceptual analysis was asked to score voices according to the G component (overall quality) of the GRBAS system. Two rating scales were used. The first was a conventional 4-point ORD scale. The second was a modified VA (mVA) scale obtained by transforming the VA scale into an ORD scale using a weighted conversion scheme. Objective voice evaluation was performed using the EVA workstation. Objective measurements included acoustic, aerodynamic, and physiologic parameters as well as parameters based on nonlinear mathematics (e.g., Lyapunov coefficient). Instrumental measurements were compared with results of perceptual analysis using either the conventional ORD scale or mVA scale. Results demonstrate that correlation between perceptual and objective voice judgments is better using a mVA scale than a conventional ORD scale (concordance, 88 vs. 64%). Data also indicate that the mVA scale described herein improves the correlation between objective and perceptual voice analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Significance, necessity, indications and practical implementation of complex voice treatments within the scope of an inpatient treatment procedure (voice health cure)].

The decisive advantages of inpatient therapy for voice disorders are described. The purpose of these complex and intensive health resorts for voice disorders is to change the tuning of the voice, and to alter the behaviour of the individuals using a deficient voice sound, ie. it is a holistic voice therapy. The concept of treatment covers a large spectrum of voice disturbances including paralyses and organic disorders. The results of therapy were satisfactory particularly with professional voice users.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1997

[The electrophysiological indices of the state of the different sections of the auditory analyzer in persons with a normal voice and with functional voice disorders].

Individuals with normal voice and patients with voice functional impairments undergone electrophysiological investigation of various parts of the hearing system, using tone audiometry, including the extended frequency band (10, 12, 14 and 16 kHz), as well as short- and long-latency acoustic evoked potentials (SLAEP and LLAEP). It was found out, that individuals with voice functional impairments had all of their hearing system's parts impaired to various extent, with more marked impairments in the central, rather than in the peripheral part of the hearing system. It was shown, that hearing at 4-8 kHz, as well as with the extended frequency band, especially at 14-16 kHz, time patterns of acoustic evoked potentials (latencies of waves III and V of SLAEP, the interpeak interval I-V, as well as the latency periods of the LLAEP components P2 and N2) could be useful in professional selection of individuals of voice and speech professions and for solving labor expertise matters. Of those individuals with normal voice but systematic vocal stress, 17.5% had impaired hearing at 14 and 16 kHz, as well as significant latency prolongation of the LLAEP wave N2 with tone stimulation at 1 and 4 kHz. Apparently, individuals of voice and speech professions should be referred to as the "risk" group. It may well be, that extended band audiometry and acoustic evoked potentials time patterns could be useful in determining the thresholds between the normality and pathology in voice dysfunctions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in inpatient voice rehabilitation medicine].

BACKGROUND: The focus of this study was to determine if the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is a valid tool for evaluating an inpatient voice rehabilitation program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 39 German-speaking patients were asked to complete a German version of the VHI questionnaire at the beginning and 3 months after attending a voice rehabilitation program on an inpatient basis at the Bad Gögging voice center. The data collected were documented and assessed using Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. RESULTS: A significant reduction of the VHI summary score was achieved by 10 of 39 patients. An increased number of voice therapy sessions before the program diminished (!) the VHI score 3 months after the program. Work disability because of the dysphonia before the beginning of the voice rehabilitation program showed no significant correlation with the VHI score. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the VHI cannot be regarded as a reliable measure to evaluate benefit derived from completing a voice rehabilitation program on an inpatient basis. Apparently, numerous prior treatment regimens constitute a negative prognostic criterion for rehabilitation success as measured subjectively by the VHI.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Cerebral processing of mother's voice compared to unfamiliar voice in 4-month-old infants.

In order to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms related to the infant's preference of maternal stimuli over other stimuli, auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in responses to the mother's voice and to a voice of an unfamiliar female in 15 infants at the age of 4 months. Stimuli were presented in intermittent and alternating trains of four identical stimuli (mother's voice or an unfamiliar voice). A significant amplitude difference was observed in the responses. This was seen as a negative 'shift' in the responses to mother's voice after approximately 350 ms. The finding suggests that the infants allocate more attention to process their own mothers' voices compared to unfamiliar voices and it may work in favor of establishing and strengthening an emotional tie between the infant and its mother.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The relationship among voice onset, voice quality, and fundamental frequency: a dynamical perspective.

In dynamical motor theory, skill acquisition occurs as a modification of preexisting coordination patterns or attractor states. The purpose of this study was to assess how different levels of voice onset, voice quality, and fundamental frequency (F(0)) combine to form the attractor states common to voice motor control. Three levels of voice onset (glottal, simultaneous, and breathy), voice quality (modal speech, mixed, and falsetto), and fundamental frequency (low, mid, and high) were manipulated by vocally untrained, female subjects. Percent correct of acquisition trials and self-report of effort were used as measures of stable phonations indicative of an attractor state. Using intensity as a covariate, the results provided support for two of the three predicted triads representing attractor states in female speakers: (1) glottal onset/modal speech quality/low F(0); and (2) breathy onset/falsetto quality/high F(0). The results of this study suggest that certain parameters of voice motor control, such as onset, quality, and F(0), exist as part of a dynamical system that can be identified and manipulated in voice motor acquisition and learning.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Analysis and evaluation of a voice-training program in future professional voice users.

The goal of this study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of a voice-training program. Twenty-three professional voice users received voice training for 2 years and vocal hygiene education for 1 year. The voice-training program consisted of lectures, technical workshops, and vocal coaching. The European Laryngological Society (ELS) protocol, including the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), was applied before and after, respectively, 9 and 18 months of voice training. A questionnaire on daily habits was presented at study onset and after 18 months. The DSI improvement is more significant after 9 months (P=0.005) than it is after 18 months (P=0.2). On the other hand, the perceptual evaluation remained unchanged after 9 months, whereas it improved significantly after 18 months. The results of the daily habit questionnaire are disturbing: the prevalence of smoking, vocal abuse, stress, and late meals were not influenced by the lectures and remained high. This study emphasizes the need for a well-organized voice-training program that is most effective after 9 months. Regarding the low effectiveness of the vocal hygiene program, the concept needs revision.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effects on the glottal voice source of vocal loudness variation in untrained female and male voices.

Subglottal pressure is one of the main voice control factors, controlling vocal loudness. In this investigation the effects of subglottal pressure variation on the voice source in untrained female and male voices phonating at a low, a middle, and a high fundamental frequency are analyzed. The subjects produced a series of /pae/ syllables at varied degrees of vocal loudness, attempting to keep pitch constant. Subglottal pressure was estimated from the oral pressure during the /p/ occlusion. Ten subglottal pressure values, approximately equidistantly spaced within the pressure range used, were identified, and the voice source of the vowels following these pressure values was analyzed by inverse filtering the airflow signal as captured by a Rothenberg mask. The maximum flow declination rate (MFDR) was found to increase linearly with subglottal pressure, but a given subglottal pressure produced lower values for female than for male voices. The closed quotient increased quickly with subglottal pressure at low pressures and slowly at high pressures, such that the relationship can be approximated by a power function. For a given subglottal pressure value, female voices reached lower values of closed quotient than male voices.

Adult↗