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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Effect of polypectomy on voice quality].

Voice quality and improvement after vocal cord polypectomy was assessed in 15 patients. The polyps were found by indirect observation; assessment of vocal quality was by recording isolated vowels, words and sentences said in Hebrew before operation and 1 and 3 months later. The recordings were analyzed using a computer program written at the Medical Electronics Laboratory of The Technion. Analysis of the 5 Hebrew vowels (a,e,i,o,u) yielded numerical and graphical data of formats specific for each utterance and speaker. These data were compared with control data taken from the literature for healthy Hebrew speakers. Statistical analysis (by paired t-test for matched samples) revealed a tendency to a decrease in difference between postoperative results and control data. Comparison of preoperative recordings with control data suggest that this method of voice condition assessment is worth considering for systematic application in clinics and hospitals. Among its advantages is that it permits long-term objective assessment of changes in voice quality. It thus supplies data for follow-up studies of patients and others who suffer from voice problems, especially those whose voice is their professional tool.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The measurement of voice quality and voice capacity to penetrate background noise and multidimensional voice program].

The paper presents a method of measuring the vocal penetrating capacity under conditions of masking voice. The noise consists of a frequency mixture of vowels in combination with voiced and unvoiced consonants. The comprehensibility of the test matrix is measured with respect to the capacity of the voice to penetrate background noise. The results of the measurement, which are based on more than 1,000 patients, show a significant correlation between the vocal inset phase of the voice status and the patient's subjective assessment of his ability to increase loudness of the duration of vocal use and vocal well-being. This method is therefore suitable for vocal diagnostic purposes, for evaluating the success of therapy, and testing the aptitude for voice-related professions.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Throaty voice quality: subglottal pressure, voice source, and formant characteristics.

"Throaty" voice quality has been regarded by voice pedagogues as undesired and even harmful. This study attempts to identify acoustic and physiological correlates of this quality. One male and one female subject read a text habitually and with a throaty voice quality. Oral pressure during p-occlusion was measured as an estimate of subglottal pressure. Long-term average spectrum analysis described the average spectrum characteristics. Sixteen syllables, perceptually evaluated with regard to throaty quality by five experts, were selected for analysis. Formant frequencies and voice source characteristics were measured by means of inverse filtering, and the vocal tract shape of the throaty and normal versions of the vowels [a,u,i,ae] of the male subject were recorded by magnetic resonance imaging. From this material, area functions were derived and their resonance frequencies were determined. The throaty versions of these four vowels all showed a pharynx that was narrower than in the habitually produced versions. To test the relevance of formant frequencies to perceived throaty quality, experts rated degree of throatiness in synthetic vowel samples, in which the measured formant frequency values of the subject were used. The main acoustic correlates of throatiness seemed to be an increase of F1, a decrease of F4, and in front vowels a decrease of F2, which presumably results from a narrowing of the pharynx. In the male subject, voice source parameters suggested a more hyperfunctional voice in throaty samples.

Female↗
PubMed2007

Cordectomy by CO2 laser or radiotherapy for small T1a glottic carcinomas: costs, local control, survival, quality of life, and voice quality.

BACKGROUND: The clinical results of radiotherapy and endoscopic cordectomy for T1a glottic carcinoma are reported to be similar, but costs of both treatments may differ. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the costs, voice quality, quality of life, and clinical results of both treatments. METHODS: Costs and effects from the first visit up to 2 years of follow-up were calculated, based on chart data of 35 and 54 patients who were treated with curative intent for T1a glottic carcinoma from 1995 to 1999 with radiotherapy and endoscopic cordectomy, respectively. Voice quality and quality of life were evaluated by means of patient questionnaires. RESULTS: Total costs (in Euros) of radiotherapy and CO(2)-laser cordectomy were 8322 euro and 4434 euro, respectively, including the costs of treating possible recurrences. The effects of both treatments were equal, including voice quality and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that endoscopic cordectomy is an efficient alternative for radiotherapy for these patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Muscular tension and body posture in relation to voice handicap and voice quality in teachers with persistent voice complaints.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between extrinsic laryngeal muscular hypertonicity and deviant body posture on the one hand and voice handicap and voice quality on the other hand in teachers with persistent voice complaints and a history of voice-related absenteeism. The study group consisted of 25 female teachers. A voice therapist assessed extrinsic laryngeal muscular tension and a physical therapist assessed body posture. The assessed parameters were clustered in categories. The parameters in the different categories represent the same function. Further a tension/posture index was created, which is the summation of the different parameters. The different parameters and the index were related to the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI). The scores of the VHI and the individual parameters differ significantly except for the posterior weight bearing and tension of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. There was also a significant difference between the individual parameters and the DSI, except for tension of the cricothyroid muscle and posterior weight bearing. The score of the tension/posture index correlates significantly with both the VHI and the DSI. In a linear regression analysis, the combination of hypertonicity of the sternocleidomastoid, the geniohyoid muscles and posterior weight bearing is the most important predictor for a high voice handicap. The combination of hypertonicity of the geniohyoid muscle, posterior weight bearing, high position of the hyoid bone, hypertonicity of the cricothyroid muscle and anteroposition of the head is the most important predictor for a low DSI score. The results of this study show the higher the score of the index, the higher the score of the voice handicap and the worse the voice quality is. Moreover, the results are indicative for the importance of assessment of muscular tension and body posture in the diagnosis of voice disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Quantitative analysis of voice quality in early glottic laryngeal carcinomas treated with radiotherapy.

The quality of voice after radiotherapy is generally considered to be better than that after surgery for early glottic (T1a and T1b) carcinomas. Studies concerning voice quality after radiotherapy are scarce, and results have been contradictory concerning actual normalization of voice following therapy. This study was designed to compare several voice parameters of patients successfully treated 1-12 years previously with radiotherapy (5750-7000 cGy) for early glottic carcinoma. Parameters involved an age- and sex-matched control group. Results showed that voice quality following radiotherapy was less than normal for maximum vocal intensity, dynamic vocal intensity range, jitter, and mean fundamental frequency. These findings showed that voice following radiotherapy could not be considered normal.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Plasticity of voice quality: a prognostic factor for outcome of voice therapy?

Plasticity of voice quality is defined here as the degree of improvement in deviant voice quality that can be achieved immediately or quasi-immediately by changing basic voicing conditions, posture, articulation or resonance, breathing mechanics, laryngeal position, or auditory feedback. Thirty-two adult patients with various benign organic voice pathologies, and who had a (preoperative) functional voice therapy, were scored before therapy using a weighted multidimensional Index of Voice Plasticity (IVP). The hypothesis is that IVP could be a predictor of the final outcome of functional voice therapy, and therefore a correlation with a comparable quantification of the actual results of the therapy was investigated. The IVP shows a satisfactory correlation (Spearman's rho = 0.68) with the efficacy of (preoperative) voice therapy. The IVP also significantly differs between diagnostic categories. Although its predictive value remains limited, the Index of Voice Plasticity seems helpful in decision making for indication of (presurgical) voice therapy.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Dimensionality in voice quality.

This study concerns speaking voice quality in a group of male teachers (n = 35) and male actors (n = 36), as the purpose was to investigate normal and supranormal voices. The goal was the development of a method of valid perceptual evaluation for normal to supranormal and resonant voices. The voices (text reading at two loudness levels) had been evaluated by 10 listeners, for 15 vocal characteristics using VA scales. In this investigation, the results of an exploratory factor analysis of the vocal characteristics used in this method are presented, reflecting four dimensions of major importance for normal and supranormal voices. Special emphasis is placed on the effects on voice quality of a change in the loudness variable, as two loudness levels are studied. Furthermore, the vocal characteristics Sonority and Ringing voice quality are paid special attention, as the essence of the term "resonant voice" was a basic issue throughout a doctoral dissertation where this study was included.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Voice quality change in future professional voice users after 9 months of voice training.

Sixty-eight students of a school for audiovisual communication participated in this study. A part of them, 49 students, received voice training for 9 months (the trained group); 19 subjects received no specific voice training (the untrained group). A multidimensional test battery containing the GRBAS scale, videolaryngostroboscopy, Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), jitter, lowest intensity (IL), highest frequency (FoH), Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was applied before and after training to evaluate training outcome. The voice training is made up of technical workshops in small groups (five to eight subjects) and vocal coaching in the ateliers. In the technical workshops, basic skills are trained (posture, breathing technique, articulation and diction), and in the ateliers, the speech and language pathologist assists the subjects in the practice of their voice work. This study revealed a significant amelioration over time for the objective measurements [Dysphonia Severity Index: from 2.3 to 4.5 ( P<0.001)] and the self-evaluation [Voice Handicap Index, from 23 to 18.4 ( P=0.016)] for the trained group only. This outcome favors the systematic introduction of voice training during the schooling of professional voice users.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Compliance, quality of life and quantitative voice quality aspects of hands-free speech.

CONCLUSIONS: With the use of a new automatic stoma valve (ASV) it appears possible to rehabilitate patients who have previously been unsuccessful in acquiring hands-free speech. As well as making daily ASV use possible for an additional group of patients, this new device was also appreciated by many patients as an additional rehabilitation tool for specific occasions. Despite statistically significant improvements in aspects of voice and breathing using this novel ASV, improvement of peristomal adhesion is probably the main factor needed to further increase success rates. Nevertheless, our results show that it makes sense to keep trying to achieve hands-free speech, even if previous attempts have failed. OBJECTIVE: To make a long-term (6 months) assessment of compliance and aspects of voice, breathing and quality of life using a new ASV: the Provox FreeHands heat and moisture exchanger (HME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective clinical multicentre trial in 79 laryngectomized patients (8 regular ASV users, 58 previously unsuccessful users and 13 new users). Data were collected at baseline and after 1 and 6 months by means of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaires and specific structured questionnaires concerning compliance, skin adhesion, voicing and pulmonary aspects. An objective assessment of voice parameters (maximum phonation time, maximum phonation time while counting, dynamic loudness range and number of pauses in a standard read-aloud text) was made for comparison of different stoma occlusion methods (digital occlusion via an HME and two different ASVs). A subjective assessment of overall voice quality was made. RESULTS: After 6 months, 19% of patients used the new ASV on a daily basis (mean 5 h/day), while 57% used it on an irregular basis as an additional rehabilitation tool for special occasions. Two-thirds of the study group indicated that they would continue to use the new ASV after the study period. With respect to the objective parameters, statistically significantly better maximum phonation times and dynamic loudness ranges were observed with the new ASV compared to the Blom-Singer ASV. However, the best results for all the objective parameters were obtained with digital occlusion via the Provox HME.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Multiparametric description of voice quality for normal male and female voices based on acoustic analyses].

BACKGROUND: An improved method to obtain voice quality parameters from the acoustic speech signal is presented and applied to the determination of voice profiles. METHODS: The method is based on voice parameters proposed by Stevens and Hanson (1994). Vowel productions of 300 adult speakers (150 male and 150 female speakers) without any known voice pathologies were considered. RESULTS: In a first step, gender differentiated mean normal voice profiles are presented. The significant differences between male and female speakers indicate the necessity for separate treatment of the two groups. In a second step, a clustering technique differentiates three numerically substantial subgroups for male and female speakers. Over and above that, the acoustic parameters with the best potential for subgroup differentiation are determined. Additionally, a continuum containing individual variation within normal phonation is shown. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of the analysis method is supported by the possibility of a physiological interpretation of the voice data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The laryngeal vestibule, voice quality and paralinguistic markers.

The laryngeal component of voice quality markers has been quantified in the present study, suggesting that the laryngeal vestibule and lower pharynx play an important role in voice quality. Findings also show that voice quality can be partly described in terms of laryngeal configurations and that a knowledge of these configurations may be useful to the laryngologist, speech pathologist and singer. Twenty-five voice qualities were videorecorded, using a nasal fiberscope. Still photographs were taken for each voice quality and distance measurements made on each one for 15 laryngeal parameters. The raw data were normalized, sorted from high to low, turned into scalar values and processed to establish which parameters exhibited similar functions, which photographs were essentially identical, and in what respect any two photographs were different. Each voice quality was seen to be associated with a different, describable and quantifiable laryngeal configuration.

Epiglottis↗
PubMed1990

Analysis, synthesis, and perception of voice quality variations among female and male talkers.

Voice quality variations include a set of voicing sound source modifications ranging from laryngealized to normal to breathy phonation. Analysis of reiterant imitations of two sentences by ten female and six male talkers has shown that the potential acoustic cues to this type of voice quality variation include: (1) increases to the relative amplitude of the fundamental frequency component as open quotient increases; (2) increases to the amount of aspiration noise that replaces higher frequency harmonics as the arytenoids become more separated; (3) increases to lower formant bandwidths; and (4) introduction of extra pole zeros in the vocal-tract transfer function associated with tracheal coupling. Perceptual validation of the relative importance of these cues for signaling a breathy voice quality has been accomplished using a new voicing source model for synthesis of more natural male and female voices. The new formant synthesizer, KLSYN88, is fully documented here. Results of the perception study indicate that, contrary to previous research which emphasizes the importance of increased amplitude of the fundamental component, aspiration noise is perceptually most important. Without its presence, increases to the fundamental component may induce the sensation of nasality in a high-pitched voice. Further results of the acoustic analysis include the observations that: (1) over the course of a sentence, the acoustic manifestations of breathiness vary considerably--tending to increase for unstressed syllables, in utterance-final syllables, and at the margins of voiceless consonants; (2) on average, females are more breathy than males, but there are very large differences between subjects within each gender; (3) many utterances appear to end in a "breathy-laryngealized" type of vibration; and (4) diplophonic irregularities in the timing of glottal periods occur frequently, especially at the end of an utterance. Diplophonia and other deviations from perfect periodicity may be important aspects of naturalness in synthesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Multidimensional scaling of breathy voice quality: individual differences in perception.

Experiments on disordered voice quality with multidimensional scaling (MDS) have resulted in solutions with low R-square and have failed to show consistent dimensions across different listeners. These findings have been suggested to indicate large individual differences in the perception of voice quality. However, these inconsistencies may originate from several factors, including random stimulus selection, instructions that encourage listeners to respond to global difference in pairs of voices, and noisy perceptual data. This experiment used MDS techniques to study individual differences in perception of breathiness. The voices in the experiment were selected to have a relatively wide variation in breathiness but only minimal variation in roughness, strain, and fundamental frequency. Additionally, listeners were instructed specifically to rate similarities in breathiness rather than judging global differences in voices, and several judgments from each listener were averaged to minimize noise in the data. It was hypothesized that these modifications would result in an MDS solution that accounted for greater variance in perceptual data than previously shown. Results show that averaging multiple responses from each listener increased the R-square from 45% to approximately 75%. The poor R-square and large individual differences in voice quality perception observed in past research may have partly resulted from the experimental procedures in previous studies. These findings suggest that individual differences in the perception of voice quality are not as large as previously thought, and a model of voice quality perception for an "average" listener may be a good representation for the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Adverse effects of environmental noise on acoustic voice quality measurements.

An accurate analysis of voice quality is imperative when using acoustic measurements to diagnose vocal pathologies. It is known that noise has a significant effect on the reliability and validity of acoustic voice measurements, but the precise relationship has not been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of noise on the accuracy, reliability, and validity of acoustic voice quality measurements while balancing for gender, age, intersubject and intrasubject variability, microphones, computer hardware, analysis software, and type of noise. Level of noise was precisely controlled. The specific focus of interest was to determine the critical levels of noise that can invalidate voice quality measurements and to generate practical recommendations. Results suggest that the recommended, acceptable, and unacceptable levels of noise in the acoustic environment are above 42 dB, above 30 dB, and below 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio, respectively.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of alaryngeal voice quality by nonparametric procedures.

Alaryngeal voice quality was evaluated based on nonparametric statistics. Twenty voice samples of the vowel /e/ were recorded from sixteen alaryngeal and four normal speakers, and were randomized and presented to twenty normal listeners. The listeners rated the voices using seven-point scales consisting of twelve pairs of polar-opposite adjectives. By means of nonparametric procedures such as the Wilcoxon signed rank test, significant differences in the rating scores were detected for certain combinations of the voice samples, the classes of voicing methods, the listeners and the rating scales. Quality of the alaryngeal voices differed significantly from that of the normal voices on some of the rating scales. The results suggest the nonparametric procedures are useful to evaluate alaryngeal voice quality.

Adult↗
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↗