Practical Acoustics in Clinical Voice Assessment: A Praat Primer

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 14-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youri Maryn
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Software Package ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Voice Analysis ◽  
Acoustic Voice Analysis ◽  
Voice Assessment ◽  
Frequency Sound ◽  
Level Spectrum ◽  
Graphical Information

Praat is a freely available software package for formatting and analyzing sound signals. It carries many features relevant to voice signals and it has the possibility to run customized scripts. Praat can therefore be employed for acoustic voice analysis for clinical, educational, and research purposes; however, under the condition that voice signals are sampled for sufficient recording quality. This text first addresses recording-related issues and subsequently describes how Praat can be operated to yield numerical and graphical information regarding, for example, fundamental frequency, sound level, spectrum, spectrogram, cepstrum, and cepstrogram.

scholarly journals Perceptual Assessment and Acoustic Voice Analysis as Screening Tests for Vocal Fold Paresis After Thyroid or Parathyroid Surgery

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Heikkinen ◽  
Elina Penttilä ◽  
Mari Qvarnström ◽  
Kimmo Mäkinen ◽  
Heikki Löppönen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Roc Analysis ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Parathyroid Surgery ◽  
Voice Analysis ◽  
Acoustic Voice Analysis ◽  
Vocal Fold Paresis ◽  
Voice Assessment ◽  
Perceptual Assessment

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of clinician-based perceptual assessment of voice and computerized acoustic voice analysis as screening tests for vocal fold paresis or paralysis (VFP) after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Methods This was a prospective study of 181 patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid procedure with pre and postoperative laryngoscopic vocal fold inspection, perceptual voice assessment using grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale and acoustic voice analysis using the multi-dimensional voice program (MDVP). Patients were divided into 2 groups for comparison; those with new postoperative VFP and those without. Potential screening tools were evaluated using the receiving operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results Fourteen (6.6%) patients had a new postoperative VFP. Postoperative GRBAS scores were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in patients with VFP compared to those without. However, there were no statistically significant differences in MDVP values between the groups. Postoperative GRBAS grade score (cut off > 0) had the best sensitivity, 93%, for predicting VFP, but the specificity was only 50%. Postoperative jitter (cut off > 1.60) in MDVP had a good specificity, 90%, but only 50% sensitivity. Combining all the GRBAS and MDVP variables with P < 0.05 in the ROC analysis yielded a test with 100% sensitivity and 55% specificity. Conclusions Physician-based perceptual voice assessment has a high sensitivity for detecting postoperative VFP, but the specificity is poor. The risk of VFP is low in patients with completely normal voice at discharge. However, routine laryngoscopy after thyroid and parathyroid surgery is still the most reliable exam for VFP screening.

scholarly journals Multidimensional voice assessment: the immediate effects of Lax Vox® in singers with voice complaints

Revista CEFAC ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruliano Santana da Matta ◽  
Marco Aurélio Rocha Santos ◽  
Elisa Meiti Ribeiro Lin Plec ◽  
Ana Cristina Côrtes Gama
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Voice Analysis ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Vocal Technique ◽  
Voice Assessment ◽  
Aerodynamic Parameters

ABSTRACT Purpose: to multidimensionally assess the effect of the Lax Vox® vocal technique on singers with voice complaints. Methods: a comparative intrasubject study that assessed 30 singers - 13 males and 17 females, aged 18 to 55 years - who self-reported voice complaints and had voice problems symptoms. The participants were submitted to voice assessment with perceptive-auditory, acoustic, aerodynamic, and electroglottographic voice analysis, as well as laryngeal assessment with high-speed videolaryngoscopy. The participants were assessed at two moments: 1) at the beginning of the data collection; and 2) five minutes after performing the Lax Vox® vocal technique. The groups were compared with appropriate statistical tests, with a 5% significance level. Results: in the acoustic analysis, there was an increase in the fundamental frequency for males, after using the Lax Vox® vocal technique. In the aerodynamic assessment, there was an increase in the airflow mean values during vocalization, as well as in aerodynamic power after using the Lax Vox® vocal technique in both groups. Conclusion: the Lax Vox® vocal technique, in the studied singers with a complaint of dysphonia, promoted an increase in the fundamental frequency, for males. In the aerodynamic parameters, in both sexes, it promoted an increase in the airflow and aerodynamic power.

scholarly journals Vocal therapy with larynx compression after partial laryngectomy

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordana Mumovic
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Frequency Standard ◽  
Partial Laryngectomy ◽  
Manual Compression ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Voice Analysis ◽  
Acoustic Voice Analysis ◽  
Group I ◽  
Noise Ratio

The aim of the study was to establish the effects of the vocal therapy by manual compression of the larynx on dysphonia due to a partial laryngectomy and compare them with the effects of the standard vocal therapy. The prospective study included 66 patients submitted to any partial laryngectomy type. The patients were randomly classified into two groups: Group I (33) receiving the standard vocal therapy, and Group II (33) submitted to larynx compression vocal therapy. The 6-week vocal treatment was performed. The treatment effects were evaluated by subjective and objective voice analysis methods. The subjective and objective acoustic voice analysis revealed a significant influence (p<0.05) of either of the two vocal therapy modes on initial dysphonia. The larynx compression vocal therapy had better effects on the acoustic parameters: habitual fundamental frequency, mean fundamental frequency, standard deviation of fundamental frequency, maximal fundamental frequency, harmonics-to-noise ratio, and signal-to-noise ratio.

Quantifying Vocal Power: Correlation of Whole-Body Anaerobic Power to Vocal Function Measures

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 2597-2608
Author(s):  
Emily N. Snell ◽  
Laura W. Plexico ◽  
Aurora J. Weaver ◽  
Mary J. Sandage
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Forced Vital Capacity ◽  
Vital Capacity ◽  
Anaerobic Power ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Vocal Function ◽  
Laryngeal Diadochokinesis ◽  
High Sound

Purpose The purpose of this preliminary study was to identify a vocal task that could be used as a clinical indicator of the vocal aptitude or vocal fitness required for vocally demanding occupations in a manner similar to that of the anaerobic power tests commonly used in exercise science. Performance outcomes for vocal tasks that require rapid acceleration and high force production may be useful as an indirect indicator of muscle fiber complement and bioenergetic fitness of the larynx, an organ that is difficult to study directly. Method Sixteen women (age range: 19–24 years, M age = 22 years) were consented for participation and completed the following performance measures: forced vital capacity, three adapted vocal function tasks, and the horizontal sprint test. Results Using a within-participant correlational analyses, results indicated a positive relationship between the rate of the last second of a laryngeal diadochokinesis task that was produced at a high fundamental frequency/high sound level and anaerobic power. Forced vital capacity was not correlated with any of the vocal function tasks. Conclusions These preliminary results indicate that aspects of the laryngeal diadochokinesis task produced at a high fundamental frequency and high sound level may be useful as an ecologically valid measure of vocal power ability. Quantification of vocal power ability may be useful as a vocal fitness assessment or as an outcome measure for voice rehabilitation and habilitation for patients with vocally demanding jobs.

Incubator Noise

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-617
Author(s):  
Gōsta Blennow ◽  
Nils W. Svenningsen ◽  
Bengt Almquist
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Frequency Sound ◽  
Mechanical Noise ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Infant Incubator ◽  
Improved Model ◽  
Model C

Recently we reported results from studies of incubator noise levels.1 It was found that in certain types of incubators the noise was considerable, and attention was called to the sound level in the construction of new incubators. Recently we had the opportunity to study an improved model of Isolette Infant Incubator Model C-86 where the mechanical noise from the electrically powered motor has been partially eliminated. With this modification it has been possible to lower the low-frequency sound levels to a certain degree in comparison to the levels registered in our study.

Subjective evaluation of the combining effect between the virtual bass and head related transfer functions

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (5) ◽  
pp. 1488-1496
Author(s):  
Yunqi Chen ◽  
Chuang Shi ◽  
Hao Mu
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Source ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Localization Accuracy ◽  
Frequency Sound ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Listening Experience ◽  
Missing Fundamental

Earphones are commonly equipped with miniature loudspeaker units, which cannot transmit enough power of low-frequency sound. Meanwhile, there is often only one loudspeaker unit employed on each side of the earphone, whereby the multi-channel spatial audio processing cannot be applied. Therefore, the combined usage of the virtual bass (VB) and head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) is necessary for an immersive listening experience with earphones. However, the combining effect of the VB and HRTFs has not been comprehensively reported. The VB is developed based on the missing fundamental effect, providing that the presence of harmonics can be perceived as their fundamental frequency, even if the fundamental frequency is not presented. HRTFs describe the transmission process of a sound propagating from the sound source to human ears. Monaural audio processed by a pair of HRTFs can be perceived by the listener as a sound source located in the direction associated with the HRTFs. This paper carries out subjective listening tests and their results reveal that the harmonics required by the VB should be generated in the same direction as the high-frequency sound. The bass quality is rarely distorted by the presence of HRTFs, but the localization accuracy is occasionally degraded by the VB.

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