This study attempted to replicate and expand previously published research in order to increase our understanding of how Vocal Function Exercises (VFE) might improve vocal function in normal voices. Measures were made to reflect potential post-treatment changes in acoustic and aerodynamic variables, including a measure of vocal efficiency. The participants of the study included 35 adults with normal voices. Each completed a series of speech tasks (sustained vowels, maximum phonation time, reading of a standardized passage, and repetition of syllable strings) before and after a four-week treatment period. Testing of pre- and post-treatment data revealed no clear improvement in acoustic and aerodynamic measures of the voice. There were also no significant improvements in vocal efficiency following the VFE. These findings suggest the need for further research to better understand the value of VFE in improving vocal function.

Vocal fold vibration results from an alternating balance between subglottal air pressure that drives the vocal folds apart and muscular, elastic, and restoring forces that draw them together. The aim of the present thesis is to present quantitative data of normal vocal function using a noninvasive method. Measurements are made on the inverse filtered airflow waveform, of estimated average trans glottal pressure and glottal airflow, and of sound pressure for productions of syllable sequences. Statistical results are used to infer mechanisms that underlie differences across ( 1 ) normal, loud, and soft voice, (2) normal, high, and low pitch, and (3) between female and male voices. Interspeaker variation in group data and intra speaker variation across repeated recordings is also investigated. The results showed no significant female-male differences in pressure, suggesting that differences in other measures were not primarily due to differences in the respiratory systems . Most glottal waveforms showed a DC flow offset, suggesting an air leakage through a posterior glottal opening. Results suggested (indirectly) that the males in comparison with the females had significantly higher vocal fold closing velocities (maximum flow declination rate), larger vocal fold oscillations (AC flow), and relatively longer closed portions of the cycle (open quotient) in normal and loud voice. In soft voice, female and male waveforms were more alike. In comparison with normal voice, both females and males produced loud voice with significantly higher values of pressure, vocal fold closing velocity, and AC flow. Soft voice was produced with significantly lower values of these measures and increased DC flow. Correlation analyses indicated that several of the airflow measures were more directly related to vocal intensity than to pitch. Interspeaker variation was large, emphasizing the importance of large subject groups to capture normal variation. Intraspeaker variation across recording sessions was less than 2 standard deviations of the group means. The results should contribute to the understanding of normal voice function, and should be useful as norms in studies of voices disorders as well. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.För att köpa boken skicka en beställning till exp@ling.su.se/ To order the book send an e-mail to exp@ling.su.se

Based on the acoustic analysis of the voice it is possible to obtain information concerning the glottal source and the vocal filter, once these are characteristics that are peculiar to every individual, and may vary according to age, sex, race and the population. Objective: characterize a group of men with normal voice and larynx in terms of their glottal source characteristics and vocal filter. Materials and methods: The group studied in this research was composed of 25 men, with ages ranging from 20 to 39 years old (average age of 28 years old), who were selected using criteria of inclusion and exclusion: Male subjects, normal larynx, young adult age group (20 to 40 years old) and the acceptance of the of free and clear consent term. The exclusion criteria were medical records of neurological, psychiatric, endocrinologic and gastric diseases, vocal complaints, audibly-perceived voice alterations, flu or allergy cases, drinking and smoking habits, previous speech therapeutic and/or otorhinolaryngology treatment, hearing alterations, stomatognathic system alterations, being a singer under 20 years old; or aged over 40 years old. All subjects had the prolonged emission of the vowel [a] recorded and analyzed by the programs Multi Dimensional Voice Program (for the study of the measurements of the glottal source) and Real Time Spectrogram (for the study of the vocal filter), both programs by Kay Elemetrics Corporation®. All the results were statistically analyzed with a significance level of 5% and they were compared to the normality pattern of the program once provided. Results: Concerning the glottal source, the measurements of frequency disturbance and range were the ones that differed the most from the normal patterns, showing high values on the program. About half of the measurements showed normal distribution. About the vocal filter, in the Wide Band Spectrography, there was statistical significance for noise, present in the high frequencies, little definition in the third and the fourth formant, little regularity in the line and medium anti-resonance. In the Narrow Band Spectrography, there was low intensity of the high frequencies and in the entire spectrum, very present noise in the entire spectrum and in the high frequencies, medium noise in the low frequencies, little regularity of the line and medium anti-resonance. Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that the voice of men young adults show acoustic measurements of the glottal source augmented in relation to the value expected by the program used, and great variability of the values among the subjects. Their spectrographs showed large amount of noise in the entire spectrum and in the high frequencies, the third and the fourth formant poorly defined, medium noise in the low frequencies, irregular line, medium anti-resonance, low intensity in the entire spectrum and, in particular, in the high frequencies. This is how it was characterized the group of men young adults with normal voice and larynx in this research, being these conclusions a consequence of the anatomic and physiologic characteristics of their untrained voices. / A partir da análise acústica da voz é possível obter informações referentes à fonte glótica e ao filtro vocal, sendo que estes são características próprias de cada indivíduo, podendo variar conforme a idade, o sexo, a raça e a população. Objetivo: caracterizar um grupo de homens com voz e laringe normais, quanto às suas características de fonte glótica e de filtro vocal. Materiais e Métodos: O grupo de estudo que constituiu a pesquisa constou de 25 homens, com idades entre 20 e 39 anos (média de 28 anos), que foram selecionados segundo os seguintes critérios de inclusão: sujeitos do sexo masculino, laringe normal, faixa etária de adulto jovem (de 20 a 40 anos) e adesão ao Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Os critérios de exclusão foram: histórico médico de doenças neurológicas, psiquiátricas, endocrinológicas ou gástricas; queixas vocais; alterações perceptivo-auditivas na voz; gripe ou quadros de alergias; hábitos de etilismo e tabagismo; tratamento fonoaudiológico e/ou otorrinolaringológico prévios; alterações auditivas; alterações do sistema estomatognático; ser cantor (a); idade abaixo dos 20 anos; idade acima dos 40 anos. Todos os sujeitos tiveram a emissão prolongada da vogal [a], gravada e analisada pelos programas Multi Dimensional Voice Program (para estudo das medidas da fonte glótica) e Real Time Spectrogram (para estudo do filtro vocal), ambos da Kay Elemetrics Corporation®. Todos os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente com nível de significância de 5% e foram comparados ao padrão de normalidade do programa, quando o mesmo forneceu. Resultados: Quanto à fonte glótica, as medidas de perturbação de freqüência e de amplitude foram as que mais se distanciaram da normalidade, apresentando valores altos em relação ao programa. Aproximadamente metade das medidas apresentou distribuição normal. Já no que diz respeito ao filtro vocal, na Espectrografia de Banda Larga, houve significância estatística para ruído muito presente nas altas freqüências, pouca definição do terceiro e do quarto formante, pouca regularidade do traçado e anti-ressonância mediana. Na Espectrografia de Banda Estreita, houve fraca intensidade das altas freqüências e em todo espectro, ruído muito presente em todo espectro e nas altas freqüências, ruído mediano nas baixas freqüências, pouca regularidade do traçado e anti-ressonância mediana. Conclusão: Foi possível concluir que vozes de homens jovens adultos apresentam medidas acústicas da fonte glótica aumentadas, em relação ao esperado pelo programa utilizado, e grande variabilidade de valores entre os sujeitos. Suas espectrografias revelam grande quantidade de ruído em todo o espectro e nas altas freqüências, terceiro e quarto formantes pouco definidos, ruído mediano nas baixas freqüências, traçado pouco regular, anti-ressonância mediana, fraca intensidade em todo espectro e, em especial, nas altas freqüências. Assim é caracterizado o grupo de homens jovens adultos com voz e laringe normais desta pesquisa, sendo tais achados conseqüência das características anatômicas e fisiológicas de suas vozes não treinadas.

Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) is a well-known treatment program that consists of four exercises, in which the first and fourth tasks require maximally sustained phonation. However, the active ingredients responsible for treatment efficacy are still unknown. The primary purpose of this investigation was the explore the effects of maximally sustained phonation on the VFE outcome measure of maximum phonation time (MPT) in individuals between the ages of 18-40 with normal voice. Participants were randomized into three experimental groups that completed VFEs for six weeks. The baseline group sustained tasks one and four for as long as was achieved at the baseline session; The three-week group sustained the exercises for as long as possible the first three weeks, then to their three-week MPT average for the remaining three weeks of the program; The standard group maximally sustained phonation for all six weeks. Results indicated significant improvement in percent to MPT goal attainment in the standard group and three-week group. The baseline group did not result in significant change. Including maximally sustained phonation throughout the course of VFEs is essential to producing substantial improvements in voice production, in terms of percent to MPT goal.