The Interrelationship of Measures Related to Vocal Function, Speech Rate, and Laryngeal Appearance in Elderly Women

1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Ellen Linville ◽  
Brenda D. Skarin ◽  
Elio Fornatto
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Women ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Reading Rate ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Pitch Range ◽  
Vocal Function ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Glottal Closure ◽  
Vocal Intensity

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the interrelationship of various measures related to vocal function, speech rate, and laryngeal appearance in elderly women. Speakers were 20 women ranging in age from 67 to 86 years. An indirect laryngoscopic examination that included judgments on glottal closure and vocal fold appearance was performed on each speaker. Eight measures related to vocal performance (the production capabilities of the mechanism with regard to pitch range, intensity range, and phonation time) were collected on each speaker. Further, acoustic measures of intensity and fundamental frequency stability were made from sustained vowels, and a reading passage was analyzed for reading rate and intensity level. Factor analysis procedures revealed an association of maximum phonation time with measures of vocal intensity, as well as with pitch range measures. Surprisingly, reading rate was grouped with measures of F o stability as well as with maximum vocal intensity. Although laryngoscopic findings are in general agreement with those reported previously in elderly women (Honjo & Isshiki, 1980), inadequate glottal closure was observed more frequently, and vocal cord edema less frequently, in these women.

scholarly journals Effects of Resonance Voice Therapy on Hormone-Related Vocal Disorders in Professional Singers: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117955061878693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laishyang (Melody) Ouyoung ◽  
Brenda Capobres Villegas ◽  
Changxing Liu ◽  
Guy Talmor ◽  
Uttam K Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Study ◽  
Voice Therapy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Pitch Range ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Female Singers ◽  
Voice Data

Background: Menstruation-related hormonal alteration can be detrimental to the professional singing voice of women. Resonance Voice Therapy (RVT) has been proven to improve vocal production. However, no research to date has been conducted examining the subjective, acoustic, and stroboscopic effects of RVT on professional female singers having premenstrual or postmenopausal voice disorders. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the vocal effects of RVT with a control cervical-thoracic intervention in healthy female singers during the premenstrual phase as well as in postmenopausal singers and to evaluate which intervention will allow singers to improve vocal performance regardless of changes in hormonal status. Design: A randomized study was designed for this research. The research subjects were 20 professional female singers from the Southern California area, USA, with 10 premenstrual subjects in one group and 10 postmenopausal subjects in the other group. Among each group, 5 subjects were randomly selected to receive RVT and the remaining subjects received cervical-thoracic–focused exercises. The therapies consisted of 1 month of daily 15-minute sessions. For premenstrual subjects, voice data were collected at days 25 to 27 of the premenstrual phase during a scheduled initial voice evaluation. Follow-up data were collected during the same phase of the menstrual cycle (days 25-27) after 1 month of exercises. For postmenopausal subjects, voice data were collected at an initial voice evaluation with follow-up after 1 month of the assigned voice treatment. Outcomes were assessed with the singer’s voice handicap index (VHI), laryngeal videostroboscopic examination, maximum phonation time (MPT), relative average perturbation (RAP), and pitch range before and following completion of therapies. Alleviation or deterioration percentages were used for statistical analysis. Student t test was used for statistical comparison between therapies. Results: The RVT decreased singer’s VHI for both premenstrual and postmenopausal subjects by an average of 67%, compared with 7.8% for the cervical-thoracic therapy. The RVT also effectively decreased RAP by an average of 57% when combining the premenstrual and postmenopausal groups. The RVT increased MPT and pitch range among both premenstrual and postmenopausal subjects. The stroboscopic examination did not detect any significant differences between the 2 interventions. Conclusions: The RVT is effective for professional female singers with hormone-related premenstrual and postmenopausal vocal changes. The RVT is suggested as one of the therapeutic approaches for vocal abnormalities in such a population. A larger cohort may be needed for future research. Level of Evidence: 1b

Phonomicrosurgery in Singers and Performing Artists: Treatment Outcomes, Management Theories, and Future Directions

2002 ◽  
Vol 111 (12_suppl) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Zeitels ◽  
Robert E. Hillman ◽  
Marcello Mauri ◽  
Rosemary Desloge ◽  
Patricia B. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Performing Artists ◽  
Vocal Rehabilitation ◽  
Vocal Function ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Outcomes Management

Phonomicrosurgery in performing artists has historically been approached with great trepidation, and vocal outcome data are sparse. The vocal liability of surgically disturbing the superficial lamina propria (SLP) and epithelium must be balanced with the inherent detrimental vocal effect of the lesion(s). A prospective investigation was performed on 185 performing artists who underwent phonomicrosurgical resection of 365 lesions: 201 nodules, 71 polyps, 66 varices and ectasias, 13 cysts, 8 keratotic lesions. 2 granulomas, 2 Reinke's edema, and 2 papillomas. Nearly all patients with SLP lesions reported improvement in their postsurgical vocal function. This subjective result was supported by objective acoustic and aerodynamic measures. All postsurgical objective vocal function measures fell within normal limits, including a few that displayed presurgical abnormalities. However, given the relative insensitivity of standard objective measures to assess higher-level vocal performance-related factors, it is even more noteworthy that 8 of 24 objective measures displayed statistically significant postsurgical improvements in vocal function. Such changes in objective measures mostly reflect overall enhancement in the efficiency of voice production. Phonomicrosurgical resection of vocal fold lesions in performing artists is enjoying an expanding role because of a variety of improvements in diagnostic assessment, surgical instrumentation and techniques, and specialized rehabilitation. Most of these lesions are the result of phonotrauma and arise within the SLP. Successful management depends on prudent patient selection and counseling, ultraprecise technique, and vigorous vocal rehabilitation. Furthermore, an understanding of the vocal function and dysfunction of this high-performance population provides all otolaryngologists who manage laryngeal problems with valuable information that they can extrapolate for use in their practices.

A Study of the Pitch, Pitch Range, and Speech Rate of TV Announcers

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Guk Hwan Kim ◽  
Su Yeon Kim ◽  
Jae Yeon Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Speech Rate ◽  
Pitch Range

scholarly journals Acoustic and Perceptual Consequences of Speech Cues for Children With Dysarthria

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6S) ◽  
pp. 1766-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika S. Levy ◽  
Younghwa M. Chang ◽  
Joséphine A. Ancelle ◽  
Megan J. McAuliffe
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Clear Speech ◽  
Acoustic Measures ◽  
Speech Styles ◽  
Working Space ◽  
Word Level ◽  
Speech Cues ◽  
Vocal Intensity ◽  
Intelligibility Ratings

Purpose Reductions in articulatory working space and vocal intensity have been linked to intelligibility deficits in children with dysarthria due to cerebral palsy. However, few studies have examined the outcomes of behavioral treatments aimed at these underlying impairments or investigated which treatment cues might best facilitate improved intelligibility. This study assessed the effects of cues targeting clear speech (i.e., “Speak with your big mouth”) and greater vocal intensity (i.e., “Speak with your strong voice”) on acoustic measures of speech production and intelligibility. Method Eight children with spastic dysarthria due to cerebral palsy repeated sentence- and word-level stimuli across habitual, big mouth, and strong voice conditions. Acoustic analyses were conducted, and 48 listeners completed orthographic transcription and scaled intelligibility ratings. Results Both cues resulted in significant changes to vocal intensity and speech rate although the degree of change varied by condition. In a similar manner, perceptual analysis revealed significant improvements to intelligibility with both cues; however, at the single-word level, big mouth outperformed strong voice. Conclusion Children with dysarthria are capable of changing their speech styles differentially in response to cueing. Both the big mouth and strong voice cues hold promise as intervention strategies to improve intelligibility in this population. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5116843

Effects of Aerosol Corticosteroids on the Voice

1985 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Watkin ◽  
Stanley J. Ewanowski
Keyword(s):  
Triamcinolone Acetonide ◽  
Beclomethasone Dipropionate ◽  
Baseline Period ◽  
Oral Steroid ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Acoustic Techniques ◽  
Frequency Maximum ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The Voice

The present investigation compared the effects of triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort® Aerosol) and beclomethasone dipropionate (Vanceril Inhaler®) on the vocal functioning of 11 chronic asthmatics. Using conventional aero-acoustic techniques, subjects' vocal fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, and oral air volume velocity were sampled at baseline (oral corticosteroid use) and at the end of the first and second year of aerosol triamcinolone acetonide use. At the end of the second year of aerosol triamcinolone acetonide use, all subjects discontinued use of this compound and began use of aerosol beclomethasone dipropionate. Subjects' vocal performance then was sampled after 1 year of aerosol beclomethasone dipropionate use. Results of this study suggest that aerosol triamcinolone acetonide reduced the vocal dysfunction observed during the baseline period. When aerosol beclomethasone dipropionate was used, however, subjects' vocal performance was similar to that observed during the baseline period (oral steroid use).

Consequences of voice impairment in daily life for patients following radiotherapy for early glottic cancer: voice quality, vocal function, and vocal performance

1999 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1071-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw ◽  
Ronald B Keus ◽  
Frans J.M Hilgers ◽  
Florien J Koopmans-van Beinum ◽  
An J Greven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Life ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Glottic Cancer ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Early Glottic Cancer ◽  
Vocal Function

The Main and Interactive Effect of Oral Reading Rate on the Frequency of Stuttering

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Vanryckeghem ◽  
Jeffrey J. Glessing ◽  
Gene J. Brutten ◽  
Peter McAlindon
Keyword(s):  
Oral Reading ◽  
Slow Rate ◽  
Fast Rate ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Reading Rate ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Rate Condition ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Significant Difference

Twenty-four adults participated in a 2 (group) by 3 (rate) factorial study designed to determine the main and interactive effects of speech rate during reading on the frequency of stuttering. In this regard, the participants orally read three passages, one at their normal rate, one that was 30% faster than this rate, and one that was 30% slower. Rate was controlled by means of a computer software program, and passage order and reading rate were counter-balanced. The main effect of rate was significant. There was statistically more stuttering in the fast rate condition than in either the normal or slow rate condition. However, the frequency of stuttering in the normal and the slow rate conditions was not significantly different. Analysis of the experimental data of the eight participants who stuttered the most and the eight who stuttered the least, during base-rate oral readings, evidenced the presence of an interaction between group and rate. Those who stuttered the most showed a statistically significant increase in stuttering between the slow, normal, and fast rate conditions. In contrast, there was no significant difference in frequency between any of the three conditions for the group of eight participants who stuttered the least. These findings suggest that the extent to which rate affects fluency is a function of the degree to which stuttering is displayed. This possibility warrants consideration in relation to the use of rate management procedures.

The Effects of Syllable Structure on Diadochokinetic and Reading Rates

1980 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 894-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Tiffany
Keyword(s):  
Repetition Rate ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Reading Rate ◽  
Syllable Structure ◽  
The Other ◽  
Rate Performance ◽  
Valid Measurement ◽  
Normal Reading ◽  
Structural Variables ◽  
Normal Speech

Paragraphs with controlled phonetic structures were matched to similarly structured diadochokinetic (Maximum Repetition Rate) tasks in an effort to devise a more valid measurement for (1) assessing possible relationships between diadochokinesis and speech rate, and (2) evaluating the effects on articulation rates of such structural variables as number of consonants in a syllable, and alternating versus simple syllable repetitions. Highly stable results were obtained, suggesting the possibility of a sharp neurophysiological or biomechanical barrier which varies markedly among presumably normal speakers. Maximum repetition rates were poor predictors of normal reading rate performance. On the other hand, normal reading rates were found to be approximately the same as the maximum repetition rates—about 13.5 phones per second. The inference is that normal speech is not, as commonly supposed, obviously slower than maximum rates of syllable articulation, for equivalent syllables. The major source of variation in syllable rate measures was simply the number of phones in a syllable. The effects of articulatory place and manner appeared relatively trivial by comparison.

The Effects of Triamcinolone Acetonide on the Voice

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Watkin ◽  
Stanley J. Ewanowski
Keyword(s):  
Triamcinolone Acetonide ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Steroid Dependent ◽  
Voice Changes ◽  
Frequency Maximum

With the exception of the pioneering work by Damsté in the mid 1960’s and early '70’s, no long term quantitative research on voice changes subsequent to drug therapy has been reported. This study reports the effects of a specific cortico-steroid, triamcinolone acetonide, on selected aerodynamic and acoustic parameters reflecting the vocal performance of twenty-one chronic asthmatic steroid dependent individuals. Measurements of the subjects' vocal fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, oral air volume velocity, and peak intra-oral air pressure during production of selected speech stimuli were made before the introduction of triamcinolone and following the first and second years of drug use. After two years of triamcinolone therapy, significant changes were noted in parameters reflecting laryngeal functioning. Respiratory performance remained unchanged for most subjects. The results are discussed in terms of the possible physiological changes that might have occurred and their implications for the speech-language pathologist and speech scientist in medical management.

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