No description available.

Cough is a motor act of the laryngeal and respiratory systems. Features of coughing have been considered in the examination of respiratory, swallowing and voice disorders. Although some voice disorders have been linked to excessive coughing, the precise relationship between cough and voice remains unknown. The present study examined the acoustic features of cough across sex and age; and its relationship to the perception of voice production. A total of 30 cough samples and 30 voice samples were collected from 15 healthy females and 15 healthy males; ranging from young age (17-25 years old), middle-aged (30-45 years old) and older-age (60 years old & above). Coughs containing three distinct phases were submitted to an acoustic analysis of the long-term average spectrum (LTAS) and cough duration. Both cough and voice samples were examined perceptually by a group of 20 speech-language pathologists. Results found a distinct three-phase pattern of cough that was remarkably stable across sex and age. Significant differences were found in the duration of each phase of cough. Perception of cough was not significantly related to acoustic features of cough. Perceptual judgment of sex was comparable for both cough and voice samples. However, the accuracy of age recognition was higher for voice samples compared to cough samples. In addition, voice was judged to be healthier and stronger than cough. Overall, the results partially support the previous acoustic findings on cough. A strong relationship between the acoustics of cough and the perception of cough was not evident. Listeners judged voice differently from cough, except for sex recognition. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Corticosteroids are the most potent and reliable of the available agents among the anti-inflammatory drugs, and have assumed a major role in the management of asthma. This has subsequently resulted in the global widespread use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). A variety of studies have been undertaken to examine the effects of ICS on voice production among people with asthma. Most research suggests that the long-term use of ICS has a negative effect on voice production. However, the results of these studies are limited because of the reliance upon examining an asthmatic population and not consistently recording the dose prescribed. As a result, one cannot exclude that some of the voice problems may have been previously caused by asthma and thus, the contributing effects of ICS are obscured. Therefore, an ideal approach to examine the influence of ICS on voice is to test its short-term effects on healthy individuals, using a specific ICS (Fluticasone Propionate) at a fixed dose (1000 µg/Day). Thirty healthy adults (15 females & 15 males) aged between 18 to 30 years participated in this study. All participants were non-smokers with no history of speech, language or voice disorder. No participants had a history of asthma, respiratory illness hospital admission or inhaler use within the past 3 months. All participants followed the treatment regime often prescribed by physicians (in Canterbury region) for treating asthma (500 µg in morning & 500 µg in evening). Each participant self administered (inhaled) two puffs of ICS in the morning and again in the evening over a six day period. Voice samples were audio-recorded prior to undergoing the ICS regime, at various points during the ICS regime, and at the conclusion of ICS regime. Each participant’s audio-recorded samples were submitted for acoustic analysis using a commercially available speech analysis system (CSL 4300B, Kay Elemetrics, 1994). Three measures were performed, (1) vocal fundamental frequency (F0), (2) long-time spectral analysis (LTAS) and (3) formant frequency and formant frequency bandwidth. The results of this study indicate that ICS does have an effect on acoustic properties of voice. These effects were more evident in connected speech compared to isolated vowel productions. In particular, the spectral tilt and first spectral peak of continuous speech samples were found to change from baseline. The current results are discussed in regard to the phonatory deterioration associated with ICS use. The present study provides a framework for developing ICS treatment for respiratory disease in the phase of minimizing adverse effects on voice.

Resumo: Pesquisas epidemiológicas sobre disfonias na infância são escassas e apontam índices bastante variados entre 4,4 a 30,3%, estando relacionados às diferentes metodologias utilizadas. Determinar a prevalência de disfonia em crianças de quatro a doze anos, baseando-se nos julgamentos dos pais e nas avaliações perceptivo-auditiva, caracterizar a população estudada, os sintomas vocais, fatores de risco e sintomas associados; analisar os resultados dos exames de videolaringoscopias. Foram incluídas 2.000 crianças sorteadas em escolas públicas e subdividas em faixas etárias: quatro a seis anos, sete a nove anos e de dez a doze anos. Os pais preencheram um questionário sobre as qualidades vocais de seus filhos e as crianças foram submetidas às avaliações perceptivo-auditiva, tempo máximo de fonação (TMF), acústicas e aos exames de videolaringoscopias. Foram incluídas 2.000 crianças (1.007 meninos, 993 meninas). Sintomas vocais esporádicos foram reportados pelos pais de 206 delas e sintomas permanentes por 123, sendo estes últimos utilizados no cálculo do índice de disfonia. A avaliação perceptivo-auditiva registrou no parâmetro G da escala GRBASI, 694 vozes com escore 0, 1065 com escore 1 e 228 com escore 2. Os valores de TMF aumentaram com a idade e mantiveram-se menores nas crianças com escore 2 de G. O cálculo da relação s/z não se alterou com os escores da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva. As medidas acústicas indicaram diminuição da f0 com aumento da idade em ambos os sexos, e valores mais elevados de % de jitter, PPQ, % de shimmer, APQ, NHR E SPI. Nos exames de videolaringoscopias, os nódulos vocais, espessamento mucosos e processos inflamatórios foram as lesões mais encontradas, especialmente nas crianças com escore 1 e 2 de G. O julgamento dos pais indicou índice de prevalência de disfonia de 6,15%, elevando-se para 11,4% após as análises... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Epidemiological studies on dysphonia during childhood are scarce, and indicate rates ranging from 4.4 to 30.3% that are related to the different methods used. To determine the prevalence of dysphonia in children aged 4-12 years based on parental judgement and auditory-perceptual evaluation, as well as to characterize the study population, vocal symptoms, risk factors and associated symptoms, and videolaryngoscopic findings. Two thousand children attending public school were randomly selected and allocated into age groups: 4-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-12 years. Parents were asked to answer a questionnaire about their children's vocal features. The participating children underwent auditory-perceptual evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT) and acoustic assessment, and videolaryngoscopy. Of the 2000 children enrolled, 1007 were males and 993 were females. According to parental reporting, 206 children had sporadic vocal symptoms, and 123 showed permanent symptoms being, therefore, included in the calculation of the dysphonia index. Auditory-perceptual evaluation using the GRBASI scale revealed the following scores on the G parameter: 0 in 694, 1 in 1065, and 2 in 228 voice samples. MPT values increased with age, and remained lower among children with a G score of 2. The s/z ratio calculation did not change with auditoryperceptual scores. Acoustic measurements indicated f0 decreased as age increased in both genders, and higher jitter %, PPQ, shimmer %, APQ, NHR and SPI values. Vocal nodules, mucous thickening and inflammatory processes were the most frequent videolaryngoscopic findings, particularly in children with 1 and 2 G scores. Parental judgement indicated a dysphonia prevalence index of 6.15%, which rose to 11.4% after auditoryperceptual analysis was performed in a population of 2000 (993-F, 1.007-M). Most frequently reported vocal symptoms were related with vocal overload... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Regina Helena Garcia Martins / Coorientador: Alcione Ghedni Brasolotto / Banca: Onivaldo Bretan / Banca: Vera Lucia Garcia / Banca: Kelly Silverio / Banca: Cristiano Melo / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:02:22Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 tavares_elm_dr_botfm.pdf: 915790 bytes, checksum: 8c4918b38a3d740c6bba7fada8665e65 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Pesquisas epidemiológicas sobre disfonias na infância são escassas e apontam índices bastante variados entre 4,4 a 30,3%, estando relacionados às diferentes metodologias utilizadas. Determinar a prevalência de disfonia em crianças de quatro a doze anos, baseando-se nos julgamentos dos pais e nas avaliações perceptivo-auditiva, caracterizar a população estudada, os sintomas vocais, fatores de risco e sintomas associados; analisar os resultados dos exames de videolaringoscopias. Foram incluídas 2.000 crianças sorteadas em escolas públicas e subdividas em faixas etárias: quatro a seis anos, sete a nove anos e de dez a doze anos. Os pais preencheram um questionário sobre as qualidades vocais de seus filhos e as crianças foram submetidas às avaliações perceptivo-auditiva, tempo máximo de fonação (TMF), acústicas e aos exames de videolaringoscopias. Foram incluídas 2.000 crianças (1.007 meninos, 993 meninas). Sintomas vocais esporádicos foram reportados pelos pais de 206 delas e sintomas permanentes por 123, sendo estes últimos utilizados no cálculo do índice de disfonia. A avaliação perceptivo-auditiva registrou no parâmetro G da escala GRBASI, 694 vozes com escore 0, 1065 com escore 1 e 228 com escore 2. Os valores de TMF aumentaram com a idade e mantiveram-se menores nas crianças com escore 2 de G. O cálculo da relação s/z não se alterou com os escores da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva. As medidas acústicas indicaram diminuição da f0 com aumento da idade em ambos os sexos, e valores mais elevados de % de jitter, PPQ, % de shimmer, APQ, NHR E SPI. Nos exames de videolaringoscopias, os nódulos vocais, espessamento mucosos e processos inflamatórios foram as lesões mais encontradas, especialmente nas crianças com escore 1 e 2 de G. O julgamento dos pais indicou índice de prevalência de disfonia de 6,15%, elevando-se para 11,4% após as análises... / Epidemiological studies on dysphonia during childhood are scarce, and indicate rates ranging from 4.4 to 30.3% that are related to the different methods used. To determine the prevalence of dysphonia in children aged 4-12 years based on parental judgement and auditory-perceptual evaluation, as well as to characterize the study population, vocal symptoms, risk factors and associated symptoms, and videolaryngoscopic findings. Two thousand children attending public school were randomly selected and allocated into age groups: 4-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-12 years. Parents were asked to answer a questionnaire about their children’s vocal features. The participating children underwent auditory-perceptual evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT) and acoustic assessment, and videolaryngoscopy. Of the 2000 children enrolled, 1007 were males and 993 were females. According to parental reporting, 206 children had sporadic vocal symptoms, and 123 showed permanent symptoms being, therefore, included in the calculation of the dysphonia index. Auditory-perceptual evaluation using the GRBASI scale revealed the following scores on the G parameter: 0 in 694, 1 in 1065, and 2 in 228 voice samples. MPT values increased with age, and remained lower among children with a G score of 2. The s/z ratio calculation did not change with auditoryperceptual scores. Acoustic measurements indicated f0 decreased as age increased in both genders, and higher jitter %, PPQ, shimmer %, APQ, NHR and SPI values. Vocal nodules, mucous thickening and inflammatory processes were the most frequent videolaryngoscopic findings, particularly in children with 1 and 2 G scores. Parental judgement indicated a dysphonia prevalence index of 6.15%, which rose to 11.4% after auditoryperceptual analysis was performed in a population of 2000 (993-F, 1.007-M). Most frequently reported vocal symptoms were related with vocal overload... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

No description available.

Investigaram-se a identificação de diferentes estilos de emissões do telejornalismo classificados em: neutro, sério e descontraído, e seus correlatos acústicos. Apresentadores experientes, de ambos os sexos, com atuação constante em telejornais de rede, gravaram um texto, de mesmo conteúdo semântico, por três vezes, nos três estilos de emissão. A partir dessa gravação, foi separado o áudio em CD, em formato wave, para que se procedesse à análise acústica da amostragem, avaliando os parâmetros acústicos de freqüência, intensidade e duração da emissão; por meio do software Dr. Speech 4.0. Em outro CD, em formato áudio, as amostras foram randomizadas e julgadas por trinta sujeitos, que tiveram a tarefa de identificar os estilos. Os parâmetros acústicos que diferiram significativamente entre os estilos foram a Fo média, a Fo máxima, a variação de Fo e o tempo de fala. Os telespectadores foram capazes de identificar os diferentes estilos. Posteriormente as amostras foram separadas, por estilo, em três CDs, em formato áudio, e apresentadas por meio do Método de Comparação aos Pares a leigos, para que fossem julgadas em função de cada um dos estilos de emissão. Estes resultados foram submetidos à análise multidimensional (MDS-Multidimensional Scaling) para que fossem determinadas as dimensões em que se encontravam os diferentes estilos de emissão. Duas dimensões foram determinadas para cada estilo. No estilo descontraído, a primeira dimensão não teve parâmetro acústico significativamente correlacionado. Na segunda, sem distinção de gênero, foi significativo o número de semitons; para as vozes femininas a Fo mínima, a variação de Fo e o número de semitons; e para as vozes masculinas, nenhum parâmetro correlacionado foi significativo. No estilo neutro, a primeira dimensão, sem distinção de gênero, dois parâmetros foram significativamente correlacionados: Fo mínima e o número de semitons; para as vozes femininas, foi correlacionada significativamente a variação de Fo; e para as vozes masculinas, a Io máxima. Na dimensão dois, nenhum parâmetro foi correlacionado significativamente. No estilo sério, a primeira dimensão foi correlacionada significativamente com o parâmetro acústico tempo de fala, somente para as vozes masculinas. A dimensão dois apresentou os seguintes parâmetros correlacionados significativamente: sem considerar a distinção de gênero, a Fo média, Fo mínima e Io mínima; para as vozes femininas, a Io mínima; e para as vozes masculinas nenhum parâmetro acústico foi correlacionado significativamente. A partir desses resultados discutem-se possibilidades de intervenção com indivíduos que usam a comunicação profissionalmente. / Acoustic correlations were investigated and the identification of different emission styles in TV newscasts was rated in the following manner: neutral, serious and relaxed. Experienced presenters, from both genders, with constant appearances in network TV newscasts recorded a text with the same semantic content three times in the same emission styles. Based on this recording, the audio was separated in a CD in the wave format in order to perform the acoustic analysis of the sample assessing the acoustic parameters of frequency, intensity and duration of the emission through the Dr. Speech 4.0 software. In another CD, in the audio format, the samples were randomized and judged by 30 subjects with the task of identifying the styles. The acoustic parameters that differed significantly among the styles were the average Fo, maximum Fo, the Fo variation and the speech time. The spectators were capable of identifying the different styles. Later, the samples were separated by styles in three CDs in the audio format and presented by means of a Pair Comparison Method to lay individuals to be judged in function of each one of the emission styles. These data were submitted to a multidimensional analysis (MDS-Multidimensional Scaling) in order to determine the dimensions in which the different emission styles were. Two dimensions were determined for each style. In the relaxed style, the first dimension did not have a significantly correlated acoustic parameter. In the second one, without distinguishing the type, the number of semitones was significant; for the female voices, the minimum Fo, the Fo variation and the number of semitones; and for the male voices, there was no significant correlated pattern. In the neutral style, the first dimension, without distinguishing the type, two parameters were significantly correlated: minimum Fo and the number of semitones; for the female voices, the Fo variation had a significant correlation; and for the male voices, the maximum Io. In dimension two, no parameter presented a significant correlation. In the serious style, the first dimension was significantly correlated with the time of speech acoustic parameter, only for the male voices. Dimension two presented the following significantly correlated parameters: without considering the distinction of the type, average Fo, minimum Fo and minimum Io; for the female voices, the minimum Io; and for the male voices no acoustic parameter was significantly correlated. Based on these results, intervention possibilities with individuals that use communication professionally are discussed.

A voz é uma das formas mais diretas de expressão da nossa personalidade, sentimentos, desejos e estado de espírito. Pode-se observar em relação à criança, que o uso da voz ocorre de maneira mais intensa, justificável até pelo fato, que a todo instante as descobertas acontecem e a necessidade de exteriorizar todo esse conhecimento sucede-se através do uso voraz da voz. A laringe infantil é de configuração cônica, com cartilagens delicadas e ligamentos frouxos; os tecidos epiteliais são densos, abundantes e mais vascularizados, com tendência a edema e obstrução. Em função de suas características, a laringe infantil é um excelente instrumento de respiração, deglutição e proteção de vias aéreas superiores, porém, não para a fonação devido à sua dimensão vertical encurtada, reduzida capacidade de ressonância e possibilidade de movimentação restrita. A análise acústica da voz humana tem sido de grande importância principalmente por ser uma medida objetiva, contribuindo objetivamente na compreensão do mecanismo fisiológico do aparato vocal. Os objetivos deste estudo são: estabelecer um perfil acústico da voz mais abrangente que os apresentados na literatura atual; verificar a correlação entre os parâmetros acústicos da voz e estudar a correlação dos parâmetros acústicos da voz com a utilização da voz pelas crianças nas atividades diárias. Foram convidadas 182 crianças de escolas públicas e particulares da cidade de São Carlos – SP. Os participantes foram de ambos os gêneros com uma faixa etária de 7 a 10 anos de idade. O protocolo de gravação das vozes foi realizado a partir da gravação da vogal sustentada /a/ em tom e intensidade adequada, com duração de até 5 segundos em ambiente silencioso e diretamente no programa Análise de Voz 5.0. Os parâmetros acústicos analisados foram: freqüência fundamental (F0), jitter; shimmer; nivelamento espectral de resíduos (SFR), nivelamento de filtro (SFF); amplitude de pitch (PA); coeficiente de excesso (EX). Os achados mostraram: a média dos valores de F0 foi 237,15 Hz; o valor médio de jitter foi de 1,21%; o valor médio de shimmer foi de 7,01%; a média dos valores de SFR foi –9,53 dB; o SFF foi 11,09 dB; a média de PA encontrada nessa amostra foi 0,55 e a média do EX foi 7,46 dB. Foram sugeridos limiares mais pertinentes a voz infantil no programa utilizado (Análise de Voz 5.0) e são eles os valores: jitter = 1%; shimmer = 8%; SFR = - 6dB; SFF = -10dB; PA = 0,3; EX = 2,0dB. Dos limiares propostos temos que shimmer, PA e EX são idênticos aos limiares para adultos. Já o jitter e os parâmetros relacionados à suavidade espectral, SFR e SFF, variaram demonstrando as diferenças fisiológicas das crianças em relação aos adultos. Os resultados deste estudo trazem importantes implicações para conhecer a voz infantil de maneira mais profunda, ajudar na elaboração de programas de prevenção e tratamento da voz e disfonias infantis, além de levantar padrões de normalidade dessa população. / The voice is one of the most direct expressions of our personality and feelings. In the childhood the use of voice is intense mainly by their need to exteriorize the knowledge acquired in a so rapidly manner. The child larynx has a conic shape with tiny cartilages and loose ligaments. The epithelial tissues are dense, abundants and more vascularized, which can cause edemas and obstruction. Considering its characteristics, a child larynx is an excellent tool for breathing, swallowing and for protection of superior aerial via, however its not well adapted for phonation due to its short vertical dimension, small resonance, capability and restricted vertical movement. The acoustic analysis of the human voice has been quite useful to quantify acoustic parameters of voice as well as in the studies of physiological mechanism of voice apparatus. The aim of this work is to establish a larger acoustic profile of children’s voice, during natural daily activities, compared to the actual literature. One hundred and eighty two voice signal samples of sustained vowel /a/ from brazilian portuguese, in normal conversation level, were acquired from children at public and particular schools of São Carlos city, both male and female, ranging in age from 07 to 10 years old. Voice signals were recorded at 22,05 KHz sampling rate during 5 seconds and digitalized in a personal computer through Análise de Voz 5.0 software. The acoustic parameters evaluated were: fundamental frequency (F0), jitter; shimmer; spectral flatness of the residue (SFR); spectral flatness of the filter (SFF); pitch amplitude (PA) and excess coefficient (EX). The results show the following mean values: FO = 237,15 Hz; jitter = 1.21%; shimmer = 7.01%; SFR = -9.53 dB; SFF = -11.09 dB; PA = 0.55 and EX = 7.46 dB. The suggested thresholds values for this age are: jitter = 1%; shimmer = 8%; SFR = -6 dB; SFF = - 6 dB; PA = 0.3 and EX = 2.0 dB. From these proposed values, three of them agree with normal adult thresholds, namely shimmer, PA and EX. The jitter and spectral flatness parameters, SFR and SFF, varied showing the physiological differences between children and adults. The results found here bring some important knowledge about children’s voices and would be useful in voice therapy and could provide programs to prevent voice dysfunction. Another important result is the establishment of acoustic profile of the children voices.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate computerized voice assessment methods to classify between the normal and Dysarthric speech signals. In this proposed system, computerized assessment methods equipped with signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques have been introduced. The sentences used for the measurement of inter-stress intervals (ISI) were read by each subject. These sentences were computed for comparisons between normal and impaired voice. Band pass filter has been used for the preprocessing of speech samples. Speech segmentation is performed using signal energy and spectral centroid to separate voiced and unvoiced areas in speech signal. Acoustic features are extracted from the LPC model and speech segments from each audio signal to find the anomalies. The speech features which have been assessed for classification are Energy Entropy, Zero crossing rate (ZCR), Spectral-Centroid, Mean Fundamental-Frequency (Meanf0), Jitter (RAP), Jitter (PPQ), and Shimmer (APQ). Naïve Bayes (NB) has been used for speech classification. For speech test-1 and test-2, 72% and 80% accuracies of classification between healthy and impaired speech samples have been achieved respectively using the NB. For speech test-3, 64% correct classification is achieved using the NB. The results direct the possibility of speech impairment classification in PD patients based on the clinical rating scale.

Investigaram-se a identificação de diferentes estilos de emissões do telejornalismo classificados em: neutro, sério e descontraído, e seus correlatos acústicos. Apresentadores experientes, de ambos os sexos, com atuação constante em telejornais de rede, gravaram um texto, de mesmo conteúdo semântico, por três vezes, nos três estilos de emissão. A partir dessa gravação, foi separado o áudio em CD, em formato wave, para que se procedesse à análise acústica da amostragem, avaliando os parâmetros acústicos de freqüência, intensidade e duração da emissão; por meio do software Dr. Speech 4.0. Em outro CD, em formato áudio, as amostras foram randomizadas e julgadas por trinta sujeitos, que tiveram a tarefa de identificar os estilos. Os parâmetros acústicos que diferiram significativamente entre os estilos foram a Fo média, a Fo máxima, a variação de Fo e o tempo de fala. Os telespectadores foram capazes de identificar os diferentes estilos. Posteriormente as amostras foram separadas, por estilo, em três CDs, em formato áudio, e apresentadas por meio do Método de Comparação aos Pares a leigos, para que fossem julgadas em função de cada um dos estilos de emissão. Estes resultados foram submetidos à análise multidimensional (MDS-Multidimensional Scaling) para que fossem determinadas as dimensões em que se encontravam os diferentes estilos de emissão. Duas dimensões foram determinadas para cada estilo. No estilo descontraído, a primeira dimensão não teve parâmetro acústico significativamente correlacionado. Na segunda, sem distinção de gênero, foi significativo o número de semitons; para as vozes femininas a Fo mínima, a variação de Fo e o número de semitons; e para as vozes masculinas, nenhum parâmetro correlacionado foi significativo. No estilo neutro, a primeira dimensão, sem distinção de gênero, dois parâmetros foram significativamente correlacionados: Fo mínima e o número de semitons; para as vozes femininas, foi correlacionada significativamente a variação de Fo; e para as vozes masculinas, a Io máxima. Na dimensão dois, nenhum parâmetro foi correlacionado significativamente. No estilo sério, a primeira dimensão foi correlacionada significativamente com o parâmetro acústico tempo de fala, somente para as vozes masculinas. A dimensão dois apresentou os seguintes parâmetros correlacionados significativamente: sem considerar a distinção de gênero, a Fo média, Fo mínima e Io mínima; para as vozes femininas, a Io mínima; e para as vozes masculinas nenhum parâmetro acústico foi correlacionado significativamente. A partir desses resultados discutem-se possibilidades de intervenção com indivíduos que usam a comunicação profissionalmente. / Acoustic correlations were investigated and the identification of different emission styles in TV newscasts was rated in the following manner: neutral, serious and relaxed. Experienced presenters, from both genders, with constant appearances in network TV newscasts recorded a text with the same semantic content three times in the same emission styles. Based on this recording, the audio was separated in a CD in the wave format in order to perform the acoustic analysis of the sample assessing the acoustic parameters of frequency, intensity and duration of the emission through the Dr. Speech 4.0 software. In another CD, in the audio format, the samples were randomized and judged by 30 subjects with the task of identifying the styles. The acoustic parameters that differed significantly among the styles were the average Fo, maximum Fo, the Fo variation and the speech time. The spectators were capable of identifying the different styles. Later, the samples were separated by styles in three CDs in the audio format and presented by means of a Pair Comparison Method to lay individuals to be judged in function of each one of the emission styles. These data were submitted to a multidimensional analysis (MDS-Multidimensional Scaling) in order to determine the dimensions in which the different emission styles were. Two dimensions were determined for each style. In the relaxed style, the first dimension did not have a significantly correlated acoustic parameter. In the second one, without distinguishing the type, the number of semitones was significant; for the female voices, the minimum Fo, the Fo variation and the number of semitones; and for the male voices, there was no significant correlated pattern. In the neutral style, the first dimension, without distinguishing the type, two parameters were significantly correlated: minimum Fo and the number of semitones; for the female voices, the Fo variation had a significant correlation; and for the male voices, the maximum Io. In dimension two, no parameter presented a significant correlation. In the serious style, the first dimension was significantly correlated with the time of speech acoustic parameter, only for the male voices. Dimension two presented the following significantly correlated parameters: without considering the distinction of the type, average Fo, minimum Fo and minimum Io; for the female voices, the minimum Io; and for the male voices no acoustic parameter was significantly correlated. Based on these results, intervention possibilities with individuals that use communication professionally are discussed.