VoxLog is a portable voice accumulator, that uses both an accelerometer that measures skin vibrations and a regular microphone to collect data. The goal of the thesis was to implement and evaluate methods that based on this data estimate the three different voice parameters fundamental frequency, phonation and soundpressure level. For pitch, three different methods were evaluated. The different methods all require relatively low computational power since the goal was to implement at least one of them on the digital signal processor in the VoxLog. The results from these evaluations show that the best estimations of pitch were made with a FFT-based approach that uses phase information to get an estimation with high frequencyresolution. Phonation is estimated with an energy based voice activity detection method.This estimation is then used to choose when sound pressure level should be estimated. Here one of the main problems was to make a distinction between when sound pressure level should be estimated for the wearer of the VoxLog or when an estimation should be made for the background noise. This was solved by implementing a time window before and after phonation were neither is estimated. For both pitch and sound pressure level a feedback functionality was implemented. The feedback is given to the user via vibrations in the VoxLog, the feedback is given when estimated parameters break set limits on pitch or sound pressure level.

While a number of studies have sought to investigate ESL speakers' fluency gains over the course of one 15-week semester, few if any studies have investigated these changes over a longer developmental period. A critical factor in researching longitudinal change is that students do not often remain in an intensive English program (IEP) for more than two semesters before moving to a new school, applying to an American university, or returning to their home country. Longitudinal research, therefore, is necessary as program administrators, teachers, and learners all seek to understand points where change in oral fluency actually occurs. For this study data were collected from students in a large intensive English program over a 45-week period. For 39 ESL learners audio files from speaking tasks that were part of placement and end-of-semester level achievement tests were collected and analyzed. Specific oral fluency features such as speech rate, articulation rate, and pause frequency were investigated. This thesis will share the results of the analysis while also discussing the implications of the data for program administrators, teachers, and learners. Particular focus will be given to helping stakeholders understand specific changes that occurred in learners' fluency over the time period of three semesters.

Bakgrund Tal- och språkstörningar kan leda till och nedsatt kommunikation och förmåga att delta i samtal. Självskattning anses som ett otillräckligt mått på taltid och objektiva mätmetoder behövs som komplement. Många patienter i logopedbehandling är pensionärer men det saknas forskning om taltid inom denna åldersgrupp. Syfte Att samla in referensdata om fonationstid hos en grupp friska pensionärer och utvärdera röstackumulatorn VoxLog som mätinstrument av taltid. Metod Tjugo pensionärer deltog i studien, varav tio kvinnor och tio män i åldrarna 66-75 år. Deltagarna bar VoxLog åtta timmar per dag i tre dagar och fyllde i en aktivitetsdagbok med en självskattningsskala för taltid samt ett utvärderingsformulär. Resultat Fonationstiden i medeltal för samtliga deltagare var 9,9 % med spridningen 2,7–23,5 %. De kvinnliga deltagarna hade en signifikant längre genomsnittlig fonationstid (12,8 %) än de manliga deltagarna (7,0 %). En signifikant korrelation sågs mellan självskattning och fonationstid på gruppnivå, men en lägre överensstämmelse på individnivå. Deltagarna hade överlag positiva erfarenheter av VoxLog men vissa problem med teknik och bekvämlighet samt missförstånd av instruktioner påverkade användningen. Slutsatser Studien har bidragit med referensvärden för fonationstid, vilket kan användas i forskning och i klinisk verksamhet. Registrering av fonationstid med VoxLog kan användas för att skatta taltid och komplettera självskattning, men vissa begränsningar i metoden bör tas i beaktande. Framtida studier kan inriktas på att undersöka hur VoxLog upplevs av patienter samt att ta fram normvärden. / Background Speech and language disorders lead to limitations in communication and ability to participate in conversation. Self-reported questionnaires are considered an insufficient measure of speaking time, so that objective complementary measuring methods are needed. Many patients undergoing speech-language pathology treatment are retired, but no data about speaking time in this group exists. Aim To collect reference data about phonation time, from a group of healthy pensioners and to evaluate the voice accumulator VoxLog as a measuring instrument for speaking time. Method Twenty pensioners participated in this study; ten women and ten men aged 66-75. VoxLog was worn eight hours a day during a three day period. A diary of activities containing a self-evaluation scale regarding speech time and an evaluation questionnaire were completed. Results Mean phonation time for all participants was 9,9 % and the range 2,7–23,5 %. The female participants showed a significantly longer mean phonation time (12,8 %) compared to the male participants (7,0 %). A significant correlation between self-evaluation and phonation time at group level, but a lower agreement at the individual level, was found. In general, the participants had a positive experience of VoxLog, even though some technical, instructional and usability deficits were reported. Conclusions In this study, reference data for phonation time has been collected, that may be used clinically and in future research. Registration of phonation time with VoxLog can be used for estimation of speaking time  as a complement to self-reports, even though some limitations in the method should be taken into account. Further research should focus on patient’s opinions about VoxLog and collecting normative values.

No description available.

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.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to explore the effects of variable doses of home practice Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) on attainment of pre-established maximum phonation time (MPT) goals in individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 with normal voice. A secondary purpose was to monitor for potentially toxic effects of high doses of VFEs. Three experimental groups completed a six-week VFE protocol and practiced twice daily. The low dose group performed each exercise once, the traditional group twice, and the high dose group four times. Results indicated significant change in VFE MPT for all three groups and higher goal attainment in the high dose group. Low doses appear insufficient to produce substantial change in voice production. Acoustic MPT improved most in the traditional dosage group, which also exhibited best maintenance and best overall outcomes. No toxic effects in vocal fold condition or phonation were observed or measured secondary to high VFE exposure.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to explore the effects of varying degrees of vocal tract semi-occlusion in Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) on attainment of pre- established maximum phonation time (MPT) goals in individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 with normal voice. Individuals were randomized into three experimental groups: the traditional VFE with a semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT), modified /o/ with partial occlusion, and modified /a/ without significant occlusion. For six weeks, the participants completed the four exercises two times each, twice daily on corresponding vocal tract postures assigned by group. Results indicated significant change in percent of MPT goal attained for the traditional VFE group. Neither modified vocal tract group resulted in significant change. Decreased occlusion appears insufficient in producing substantial change in voice production despite increased compliance compared to the traditional VFE group.

The evaluation is the first step for any treatments. Therefore, normal parameters are the bases for proper evaluation in any kind of treatments. This study aimed at verifying measures of maximum phonation time (MPT) and vocal acoustic characteristics of 23 children aged 4 to 6.08 years, whose parents had signed a Free Consent Form. The children studied in four schools that agreed to participate in this research by signing an Institutional Authorization Form. The sampling process comprised a questionnaire that was sent to parents, auditory screening and vocal perceptive-auditory assessment, based on an independent evaluation performed by four speech and language pathologists through the use of R.A.S.A.T. scale. Data collection included MPT and voice samples for acoustic analysis through Multidimensional Voice Program (Kay Elemetrics). The results showed that MPT was significantly longer in 6-year-olds than in 4-year-olds; frequency variation was significantly higher in the total sample than at ages five and six. Noise harmonic ratio of the total sample was significantly higher than in fiveyear- olds. As age increased, values of noise harmonic ratio decreased significantly; noise harmonic ratio in 4-year-olds was significantly higher than at ages five and six. As the total mean of amplitude perturbation quotient increased, frequency variation, variation of amplitude and noise harmonic ratio also increased significantly; the same occurred between total mean of noise harmonic ratio and frequency variation. As the total means of amplitude perturbation quotient, frequency perturbation quotient and voice turbulence index increased the mean of soft phonation index decreased significantly. It was concluded that the results of the acoustic parameters and MPT at the age of four years old seem to evidenceimmaturity of the structures and lack of neural-muscular control at that age. / O primeiro passo em qualquer tratamento é a avaliação. Desta forma, parâmetros de normalidade são a base para uma adequada avaliação em qualquer tipo de tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as medidas de tempo máximo de fonação (TMF) e as características vocais acústicas de crianças entre 4:00 e 6:00, de ambos os sexos, estudantes de pré-escolas da rede pública e privada de Porto Alegre/RS. O processo de amostragem contou com questionário enviado aos pais, triagem auditiva, e avaliação perceptivo-auditiva vocal, baseada na avaliação de 4 fonoaudiólogas, por meio da escala R.A.S.A.T. Foram coletados os TMF e da amostra vocal para análise acústica pelo Multidimensional Voice Program (Kay Elementrics). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística por meio dos testes: t de Student, de Spearman, Pearson e Análise de Variância- ANOVA. Os resultados evidenciaram que os TMF foram significativamente maiores aos 6:00, em comparação aos 4:00; a variação de freqüência foi significativamente maior na amostra total do que nas idades de 5:00 e 6:00; a proporção harmônicoruído da amostra total foi significativamente maior do que aos 5:00 anos; e, à medida que a idade aumentou, os valores de proporção harmônico-ruído reduziram significativamente; a proporção harmônico-ruído aos 4:00 foi significativamente maior do que aos 5:00 e 6:00; à medida que a média total do quociente de perturbação de freqüência aumentou, variação de freqüência, variação de amplitude e a proporção hamônico-ruído também aumentaram significativamente; o mesmo ocorreu entre ao média total da proporção harmônico-ruído e da variação de freqüência; à medida que as médias totais do quociente de perturbação de freqüência, do quociente de perturbação de amplitude e do índice de turbulência vocal, aumentaram, a média do índice de fonação suave reduziu significativamente. Como conclusäo, constatou-se que os parâmetros acústicos e dos TMF, na idade de 4:00, parecem evidenciar a imaturidade das estruturas e a falta de controle neuromuscular nessa idade e que o início deste processo de maturacäo, possivelmente, ocorre próximo aos 5:00 e 6:00 de idade.

No description available.