Determination of fundamental frequency and voice intensity in Iranian men and women aged between 18 and 45 years

Laryngeal Changes After Septoplasty and Turbinectomy

Studies found only a little amount of evidence about the impact of septoplasty on the mechanism of voice production, as well as vocal cord and laryngeal mucosal changes. Nasal obstruction is a common medical issue that is linked to changes in the quality of resonance of voice. To assess patients with deviated nasal septum and inferior turbinate hypertrophy's voice alterations using laryngeal stroboscope before and after septoplasty and turbinectomy. In this prospective case-control study, patients in group A had inferior turbinate hypertrophy and a nasal septal deviation, while participants in group B were healthy controls who were matched for age and gender. All of the included patients had their laryngeal stroboscope and acoustic voice characteristics evaluated both preoperatively and three months after surgery. Only the baseline evaluation of healthy controls was done. We included 30 patients with mean age 24.43 ± 7.81 years, and males accounted for two thirds of the included cases, speech testing showed that Amplitude perturbation significantly improved post septoplasty with p values < 0.05, while Fundamental frequency and NHR parameters didn't show statistically significant improvement compared to preoperative measurements and control groups. Paired comparison of laryngeal erythema, mucosal edema and mucosal waves showed significant improvement compared to preoperative laryngeal stroboscopic findings with p values < 0.001 each. Significant improvements were made to septal deviation following surgery nasal obstruction caused by nasal septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy is associated with amplitude perturbation, laryngeal erythema, mucosal edema, and mucosal waves in the patients.

Investigating the Effects of Warm-up Exercises on Acoustic Characteristics of Voice in Female Gym Coaches

INTRODUCTION

A plethora of vocal enhancement and rehabilitation programs for voice professionals define vocal exercises irrespective of analyzing their effects on the specific population on which they are applied, in the established dose and often without considering the presence and absence of vocal alteration. So, in this study we investigated the impact of warm-up exercises (WUE) on the acoustic features of the gym coaches.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of WUE on the acoustic characteristics of the voice in gym coaches.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a Quasi-experimental control group design study.

METHOD

The study was carried out through participation of forty-five female gym coaches with a mean age of 31.4 years (range: 19-44 years) in Mashhad gym salon. Participants were recruited into two conditions. In the first condition, participants did not receive the exercises for a week and were acoustically evaluated at the beginning and end of the week. In the second condition, participants received the exercises once a day for a week and were acoustically evaluated at the beginning and end of the week. Voice samples were included: at least 3 vowels / a / for at least five seconds. The voice samples analyzed by the Praat software recorder (Version 6.0.23) were collected to detect the acoustic characteristics of voice including fundamental frequency (f0) (Hz), jitter (%), shimmer (dB) and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) (dB). Finally, the data obtained from these two condition were compared.

RESULTS

After WUE, a significant increased f0, decreased jitter, decreased shimmer and decreased NHR were measured. (p-value < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The WUE had an immediate positive effect on acoustic characteristics of voice)f0, jitter, shimmer and NHR(in the short term and this study suggests that the WUE is an effective technique for enhancing the overall voice quality of gym coaches.

Work-Related Vocal Challenges of Online Teaching: A Study of Female College Professors

BACKGROUND

College professors are at an elevated risk of developing voice disorders due to increased vocal demands associated with their working conditions, including high background noise levels, long reverberation times, prolonged voice use duration, and large class sizes. However, the impact of online classes on vocal health among college professors remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This longitudinal study aimed to characterize voice changes associated with online teaching among female Colombian college professors.

METHODS

Thirteen female college professors teaching online classes completed an online survey that included questions about voice functioning, working conditions, the Spanish translation of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), and the Spanish translation of the Voice-Related Quality of Life. Instrumental measurements were also performed, including environmental background noise levels, hearing screening, and voice recordings before and after a synchronous online class.

RESULTS

This study found a decreased fundamental frequency in connected speech (reading) associated with the number of students per class, the number of classes per week, and background noise levels measured with a sound level meter. L1L0 was statistically smaller among experienced teachers with higher background noise levels compared with less-experienced colleagues in quieter classes. 1558kHz was statistically associated with the average number of students, whereas HNR was slightly higher for professors with more students and more classes per week.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that online teaching has important implications for voice production among participating teachers. This study highlights the importance of considering working conditions during online classes when designing workplace prevention programs for college professors.

Voice Quality Analysis of Reinke's Edema According to Recent New Classification

OBJECTIVE

Reinke's edema is a benign laryngeal disease characterized by inflammation and swelling of the superficial layer of the lamina propria of the vocal fold, known as Reinke's space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of voice by quantitative acoustic measurements in patients affected by RE according to new classification proposed by de Vincentiis.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective case-control.

METHODS

We enrolled 76 consecutive patients with RE: eight type 1, 36 type 2, four type 3. and 28 type 4. A population of 30 healthy subjects was enrolled too. A voice recording for each subject was performed and the analysis were performed using the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program. The parameters considered were: fundamental frequency (F0), Jitter% (Jitt%), Shimmer% (Shim%), and Noise Harmonics to Ratio (NHR). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8 software. A level of significance of P < 0.05 was used.

RESULTS

The mean values and standard deviation for each parameter for the male group of patients affected by RE are: F0 101.06 (± 9.56) Hz, Jitt% 2.254 (±0.93), Shim% 9,037 (±2.21) and NHR 0.235 (±0.099). About the female group, the mean values are: F0 147,58 (±13.68) Hz, Jitt% 3,733 (±1.12), Shim% 11.172 (±3.54) and NHR 0.278 (±0.12). The difference between the types of RE and reference sample people in male and female groups are statistically significative (P < 0.05) for each parameter. In the female group all outcomes are statistically different except the F0 and NHR between healthy people and type III RE patients.

CONCLUSIONS

RE is one of the most common diseases of true vocal folds and the classification proposed by de Vincentiis is a synthesis of endoscopic findings. In this paper we underline the change in vocal quality before surgery according a new type of RE classification.

The usefulness of the acoustic and the capacity analysis of singing voice

Abstract Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the acoustic and capacity analysis of singing voice using DiagnoScope Specialist software. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 120 adults subjects, including 74 women and 46 men aged 21-5, were divided into 3 groups: I -40 subjects (treatment group) – professional vocalists, II- 40 subjects (treatment group) – semiprofessional vocalists, III- 40 subjects (control group) – students of The Military Medical Faculty at Medical University of Lodz – nonsingers. The research methodology included: primary medical history, physical examination (otolaryngological), vdeolaryngoscopic examination, the GRBAS scale for subjective voice evaluation, diagnostic voice acoustic and capacity analysis using DiagnoScope Specialist software, survey on lifestyle patterns which may affect voice quality. Results: Average value of the fundamental frequency F0 was the highest in professional vocalists’ group was 316,46 Hz in women and 165,09 Hz in men, in semiprofessional vocalists’ group was accordingly 260,50 Hz and 149,26 Hz, in nonsingers’ group was accordingly 261,23 Hz and 159, 27 Hz. Average value of Jitter parameter in professional vocalists’ group was 0,30% in women and 0,54% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists’ group was accordingly 0,31% and 0,57%, in nonsingers’ group was 0,31% and 0,56%. Average value of Shimmer parameter in professional vocalists’ group was 3,27% in women and 3,75% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists’ group was accordingly 3,46% and 3,77%, in nonsingers’ group was 4,33% and 4,39%. Average value of NHR index in professional vocalists’ group was 3,28% in women and 6,00% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists’ group was accordingly 3,23% and 6,72%, in nonsingers’ group was 3,89% and 6,13%. Conclusions: Values of the parameters which are measuring the character of the voice, relative period-to-period fundamental frequency perturbations, relative period-to-period amplitude perturbation and level of buzzing together with other methods have diagnostic and predictive value in early detection of voice disorders. Capacity analysis in singing voice showed very low values of the following parameters: phonation time, true phonation time, no phonation coefficient, voice efficiency coefficient and voice capacity. Key words: The acoustic and capacity analysis, singing voice

Medidas acústicas e aerodinâmicas em cantores: comparação entre homens e mulheres

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar medidas acústicas e aerodinâmicas da voz em homens e mulheres cantores. Método Trata-se de um estudo transversal, observacional, comparativo, com amostra de conveniência. Participaram do estudo 30 homens e 30 mulheres cantores. Foi realizada avaliação das medidas acústicas (intensidade e frequência fundamental) e aerodinâmicas (tempo de expiração, pressão aérea, fluxo de ar expirado e vozeado, volume expiratório, potência e resistência aerodinâmica, impedância acústica e eficiência aerodinâmica) durante a emissão da sílaba /pá/ em frequência e intensidade habituais, sete vezes consecutivas. Estas emissões permitem a extração de medidas de pressão aérea (obtidas da consoante plosiva /p/ que estima a pressão glótica) e das medidas de fluxo aéreo e acústicas da voz (obtidas da vogal /a/ da sílaba /pá/). Resultados Na comparação de homens e mulheres cantores, as mulheres apresentam maiores valores de frequência fundamental, e não houve diferenças na avaliação de valores das medidas aerodinâmicas entre os gêneros. Conclusão Os valores das medidas aerodinâmicas não se diferenciam entre mulheres e homens cantores.

Survey of Voice Acoustic Parameters in Iranian Female Teachers

Objectives

Teachers are one of the professional voice users. Voice problems are common among them. Female teachers are known to have more voice problems than male ones. Furthermore, there are only few studies on the voice of Iranian female teachers. The present study investigated the acoustic parameters of voice in Iranian female teachers and compares them with nonteachers.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 90 Iranian female elementary teachers, 30–50 years old, and 90 Iranian female nonteachers in the same age were assessed between May 2010 and October 2011. Data collection was carried out, using the Dr. Speech software (subprogram: vocal assessment Version 4.0 from Tiger Electronics) at the speech therapy clinic under a comfortable phonation. Normal voice in practitioners was judged by the perceptual evaluation by a voice therapist and indirect laryngoscopy examination by an otorhinolaryngologist. Voice characteristics were assessed with GRBAS scale. The speech sample was sustained /â/ using habitual and constant vocal for 10 seconds. Three tokens from each subject were obtained. Then, each subject was asked to read a standard passage in Farsi. Eventually, the difference measures of F₀, jitter, shimmer, harmonic to noise ratio (HNR), and maximum of phonation time (MPT) between two groups were investigated by statistics software SPSS 19.0 (IBM corp.2010).

Results

Results showed that the values of F₀ were higher in teachers (210.03 Hz) than in nonteachers (194.11 Hz; P < 0.001). In addition, the values of perturbation measures were greater in teachers (jitter 0.32% and shimmer 4.63%) than those in the control group (jitter 0.22% and shimmer 3.15%; P < 0.001), but in HNR and MPT values, nonteachers showed higher levels (P < 0.001). The value of HNR in teachers was (18.84±1.56) but it was (21.3±1.73) in non-teachers and MPT value in teachers was (16.83±3.65) and in non-teachers was (22.5±5.2).

Conclusions

It can be concluded that vocal overuse, abuse, or misuse during teaching over a period of time result in achievement of inadequate phonatory pattern with excessive musculoskeletal tension, and the possible result is tissue changes in teacher's voice. In addition, acoustic analysis of voice parameters for teachers may significantly contribute to the objective voice examination of this group.

Comparison between palpatory findings of the hyoid position and their acoustic, videostroboscopic, and perceptual attributes in patients with muscle tension dysphonia (with and without organic lesions)

SUMMARY

The direction in which the hyoid is pulled may change as a result of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). The disposition usually occurs owing to paralaryngeal muscular imbalance (decompensation), which can create laryngeal dysfunction and consequently deteriorating the voice quality. This study aimed at reporting on a comparison between palpatory findings of hyoid position and their acoustic and perceptual and stroboscopic attributes among patients with MTD.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional random triple-blinded study.

METHOD

Palpatory, acoustic, audioperceptual, and stroboscopic findings of 39 patients with MTD were analyzed descriptively and using independent sample t test.

RESULTS

Dominant perceptual vocal characteristic of patients with pulled-up hyoid position was rough and the degrees of jitter and shimmer were higher in patients with pulled-up hyoid position than in patients with pulled-down hyoid position (jitter, P=0.019; shimmer, P=0.004), whereas signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio was lower in patients with pulled-up hyoid position than in pulled-down hyoid patients, but not significantly (S/N ratio, P=0.56). The dominant perceptual characteristic of patients with pulled-up hyoid position was rough voice, whereas that for pulled-down hyoid patients was strained voice. On the other hand, the dominant observable pattern in patients with pulled-up hyoid was MTD type II (lateral constriction), whereas that in patients with pulled-down hyoid was MTD type III (moderate anteroposterior constriction).

CONCLUSION

There is a general congruence between the hyoid pulled direction and its perceptual, acoustic, and videostroboscopic findings in patients with MTD.