Speaking Fundamental Frequency Characteristics Associated with Voice Pathologies

1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Murry

This study investigated the relationship between pathologic and normal speaking fundamental frequency characteristics (SFF) in a group of 80 male subjects. The subjects were divided into four groups of 20 (1) vocal fold paralysis, (2) benign mass lesion, (3) cancer of the larynx, and (4) normal. The results of this study indicate that SFF standard deviation and semitone range of SFF are significantly reduced for patients with vocal fold paralysis as compared with normals. The parameters of mean SFF, number of frequency shifts, and age failed to separate the normals from the three groups of pathologic subjects.

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaheen N. Awan ◽  
Peter B. Mueller

Speech samples from groups of White, African American, and Hispanic kindergarten-age children were compared on measures of mean speaking fundamental frequency (F o ), maximum and minimum speaking F o , pitch sigma, and speaking range (in semitones). Results indicate that there are significant differences between racial groups on measures of mean speaking F o and speaking range. In particular, the Hispanic children were observed to have increased mean speaking F O S in comparison with the African American children and reduced speaking ranges as compared to both African American and White racial groups. Results indicate that the speech-language pathologist must exercise discretion when assessing the speaking F o characteristics (particularly mean speaking F o and speaking range) of children from different racial groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. T. Jesus ◽  
Joana Martinez ◽  
Andreia Hall ◽  
Aníbal Ferreira

The goal of this study was to analyse perceptually and acoustically the voices of patients with Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis (UVFP) and compare them to the voices of normal subjects. These voices were analysed perceptually with the GRBAS scale and acoustically using the following parameters: mean fundamental frequency (F0), standard-deviation ofF0, jitter (ppq5), shimmer (apq11), mean harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), mean first (F1) and second (F2) formants frequency, and standard-deviation ofF1 andF2 frequencies. Statistically significant differences were found in all of the perceptual parameters. Also the jitter, shimmer, HNR, standard-deviation ofF0, and standard-deviation of the frequency ofF2 were statistically different between groups, for both genders. In the male data differences were also found inF1 andF2 frequencies values and in the standard-deviation of the frequency ofF1. This study allowed the documentation of the alterations resulting from UVFP and addressed the exploration of parameters with limited information for this pathology.


1988 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marica C. Wheat ◽  
Amelia I. Hudson

The fundamental vocal frequency characteristics were measured from 50 male and 50 female Black 6-year-old children during prompted spontaneous speech. Boys had a mean fundamental frequency of 219.50 Hz, with a mean range of 134.80–298.70 Hz. Girls had a mean fundamental frequency (F 0 ) of 211.30 Hz and a mean frequency range of 137.60–297.50 Hz. No significant differences in mean or range values were found as a function of speaker sex. Nonsignificant relationships were found between physical variables of speaker height and weight and these F 0 measures for either sex and for the speaker group combined. The results of the present study were compared to previous research concerning the speaking fundamental vocal frequency of White children.


1980 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Murry ◽  
E. Thomas Doherty

The purpose of this study was to determine if measures of speaking fundamental frequency and its perturbation could be useful in differentiating talkers with no known vocal pathology and talkers with cancer of the larynx. Ten male subjects, five with a diagnosed malignancy of the larynx and five with normal voice, produced speech samples from which five voice production measures were obtained: the average speaking fundamental frequency (SFF), SFF variability during the reading of a sentence, the f 0 of a sustained vowel and a percent and magnitude jitter value. The perturbation factors, both directional and magnitudinal, during sustained vowels were found to be significant in discriminating normal talkers from those with laryngeal cancer. The speaking funda- mental frequency and its variability during the reading of a sentence improved the dis- criminant function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 114 (10) ◽  
pp. 792-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana M. Hartl ◽  
Lise Crevier-Buchman ◽  
Jacqueline Vaissière ◽  
Daniel F. Brasnu

Objectives: This study was performed to determine whether and how unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) affects the production and perception of voiced stop consonants as compared with unvoiced stops, and to analyze the phonetic effects of UVFP on the voicing feature. Methods: Phonetic constructs pronounced by 7 male patients with UVFP and 5 normal male subjects were recorded. The 432 speech tokens consisted of intervocalic, prevocalic, and postvocalic stop consonants (/p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/) in the vowel contexts / a/ and /i/. Perceptual consonant identification testing was performed with 5 voice and speech professionals as listeners. The type and frequency of errors made in consonant identification were analyzed. Spectrographic analysis was used to analyze acoustic cues. Results: The rate of correct consonant identification was significantly lower for tokens pronounced by patients with UVFP (77.3% versus 97.6%, p =.0001) because of incorrect identification of the voiced consonants, frequently perceived as their unvoiced homologues. Confusion between dental and alveolar place of articulation for unvoiced stops was also noted. Conclusions: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis alters the voiced-unvoiced stop consonant distinction and the dental-palatal stop consonant distinction in an experimental nonspeech context. This finding implies the existence of a phonetic handicap for patients with UVFP. Further studies should determine the effects of UVFP on global speech intelligibility.


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