This dissertation thesis deals with the demands on teachers' voice and proper use of voice in the teacher's profession. The whole thesis consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part is divided into nine sections: the anatomy and physiology of the vocal tract, voice developement, comparison of spoken and singing voice, psychological impact on voice, voice defects and hygiene, voice reeducation, methods of voice diagnostics and voice acoustics. The research part presents the findings of acoustic voice measurement. Students (only women) of Faculty of Education in Prague participed in the research. The objective of this part was to asses the quality of students' voice and their voice readiness for future teaching.

In the Baroque period, the baritone voice was not yet well-defined, but many composers wrote vocal pieces with a range appropriate for the modern baritone voice. Composers used the general categories of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass for solo voice in their compositions. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was no different from other Baroque composers in writing solo works to be performed by one of the four main voice types. The various ranges and tessituras of J. S. Bach's vocal works for bass solo voice are not limited to being sung by low basses, but may also be sung by more medium ranged baritones. The purpose of this research is to guide collegiate voice teachers and their baritone students in selecting appropriate repertoire from the works of Bach on the basis of each students' level of development and to categorize four groups of bass solos by Bach for collegiate baritone students: beginning level for freshmen, intermediate level for sophomores, advanced level for juniors and seniors, and pre-professional level for seniors and graduate students. This research was prepared in conjunction with a DMA lecture-recital of eight bass solos for collegiate baritone voice, selected from the study; two vocal works for each proficiency level.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:11:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Carolina de Assis Moura Ghirardi.pdf: 1345817 bytes, checksum: bdd2edd16052f1795c01817766f2e654 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The voice is the main work tool for teachers. Correct identification of a disorder through eficiente methods of assessment and screening will contribute to planning actions and devising specific public policies for this population. Aim: to analyze the different methods of identification and assessment and to propose a screening instrument for voice disorders in teachers. Method: The subjetcs of the study are 252 female teachers of the public school system of São Paulo, who had their voices recorded and analyzed by three speech-language pathologists using the GRBASI scale to classify their voice qualities (with or without disorder). In the same day of voice recording, subjects underwent vocal fold examinations, and the responsible doctor classified the images (with or without disorder). The teachers also answered questions in the Vocal Aspects Domain of the Teacher Voice Production Conditions questionnaire (CPVP) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). The data were submitted to statistical analysis, conducted with two purposes: 1) to verify the agreement between voice perceptive-auditory and vocal fold assessment, and 2) to devise and validate a screening instrument for voice disorders in teachers. In order to study the agreement in between both assessments, Kappa s correlation coefficient was calculated with level of significance at p &#8804;0.05. To devise the screening instrument, the data of 130 teachers (sample A) with and without voice disorder were used. An exploratory factorial analysis was conducted from the list of 21 symptoms originally in the Vocal Aspects domain of the CPV-P, and the items with correlation coefficient greater than 0.50 were chosen. A ROC curve was plotted in order to identify the best cut-off point to select teachers who may have a voice disorder and Cronbach s alpha coefficient (&#945;) was calculated in order to assess the score- s internal consistency. The external validation of the instrument was conducted using the data of the 122 remaining subjects (Sample B). Each teacher s score was calculated and the internal consistency of the data was analyzed using Cronbach s alpha coefficient (&#945;). Next, the mean scores and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The association between the scores and assessment using GRBASI scale was calculated using the chi-square test (p&#8804;0,05), and concurrent validity was analyzed calculating Spearman s correlation coefficient (r) between the score of the proposed instrument and VHI results. Results: The gross agreement between voice quality and vocal fold assessment was 77.9, and Kappa agreement index between both assessments was k = 0.40 (p < 0.001). The 12 symptoms selected by the factorial analysis to compose the Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD) were: hoarseness, voice loss, breaking voice, low-pitched voice, phlegm, dry cough, cough with secretion, pain when speaking, pain when swallowing, secretion in throat, dry throat and strained speech. Chronbach s alpha coefficient for Sample A was &#945; = 0,86. The score was defined as the simple sum of the number of present symptoms and the cut-off was five points. Chronbach s alpha coefficient for sample B was &#945; = 0.89. For this sample, the instrument s sensitivity with cut-off=5 was 92% and specificity 39%. There was a statistically significant association (p &#8804;0.001) between the SIVD score and voice quality assessment using the GRBASI scale. There was also statistically significant correlation (p &#8804;0.001) between the total VHI score and SIVD score, and the same was true for each VHI domain and SIVD score. Final Remarks: The association of perceptive-auditory vocal assessment and vocal fold evaluation should be considered the gold-pattern in voice disorder diagnosis. The SIVD is a valid instrument for screening with a high sensitivity level. Therefore, its use will aid in mapping voice disorders, and in planning public health actions and devising public policies regarding teachers / Professores têm na voz a sua principal ferramenta de trabalho. A correta identificação de um distúrbio por meio de métodos eficientes de avaliação e triagem contribuirá para o planejamento de ações e delineamento de políticas públicas específicas para essa população. Objetivo: analisar os diferentes métodos de identificação e avaliação do distúrbio de voz e propor um instrumento para triagem desse distúrbio em professores. Método: Os sujeitos deste estudo são 252 professoras da rede municipal de São Paulo, que tiveram suas vozes gravadas, e posteriormente analisadas por três fonoaudiólogas, que utilizaram a escala GRBASI para classificar a qualidade vocal dos sujeitos (com ou sem alteração). No mesmo dia da gravação os sujeitos realizaram exame perceptivo-visual das pregas vocais, e o médico otorrinolaringologista responsável classificou as imagens (com e sem alteração). As professoras responderam também às questões relativas ao domínio de Aspectos Vocais do questionário Condição de Produção Vocal do Professor (CPV-P), e ao Índice de Desvantagem Vocal (IDV). Os dados foram duplamente digitados e submetidos a análise estatística, realizada com dois objetivos: 1) - verificar a concordância entre a avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz e de pregas vocais apenas nas professoras com queixa vocal, e 2) desenvolver e validar um instrumento de triagem para o distúrbio de voz em professores. A fim de se estudar a concordância entre as duas formas de avaliação, foi calculado o coeficiente de correlação Kappa (k), com nível de significância p &#8804;0.05. Para desenvolver o instrumento de triagem foram utilizados os dados de 130 professoras (Amostra A) com e sem distúrbio de voz. Realizou-se uma análise fatorial exploratória a partir da lista de 21 sintomas vocais que compõem o domínio de Aspectos Vocais do CPV-P, e foram selecionados os itens que obtiveram coeficiente de correlação maior do que 0.50. Traçou-se uma curva ROC a fim de identificar o melhor ponto de corte para seleção de professoras que poderiam ter um distúrbio de voz, e calculou-se o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (&#945;) para avaliar a consistência interna do escore. A validação externa do instrumento foi realizada a partir dos dados dos 122 sujeitos restantes (Amostra B). O escore de cada sujeito foi calculado, e a consistência interna dos dados foi analisada por meio do coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (&#945;). A seguir, foram calculados os escores médios e Intervalos de Confiança de 95%. A associação entre os escores obtidos e o resultado da avaliação pela escala GRBASI foi calculada por meio do teste do quiquadrado (p&#8804;0,05), e a validade concorrente foi analisada por meio do cálculo do coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (r) entre o escore do instrumento proposto e os resultados do IDV. Resultados: A concordância bruta entre a avaliação da voz e avaliação das pregas vocais foi 77,9, e o índice de concordância Kappa entre as duas avaliações foi k = 0,40 (p < 0,001). Os 12 sintomas selecionados pela análise fatorial para compor o índice de triagem para distúrbio de voz (ITDV) foram: rouquidão, perda da voz, falha na voz, voz grossa, pigarro, tosse seca, tosse com secreção, dor ao falar, dor ao engolir, catarro na garganta, garganta seca, e cansaço ao falar. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para a amostra A foi &#945; = 0,86. O escore foi definido como a somatória simples do número de sintomas presentes e o ponto de corte estabelecido foi de cinco pontos. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para a amostra B foi &#945; = 0,89. Para essa amostra, a sensibilidade do instrumento com o ponto de corte = 5 foi 92% e especificidade 39%. Foi encontrada associação estatisticamente significativa (p &#8804;0,001) entre o escore no ITDV e a avaliação da qualidade vocal realizada por meio da escala GRBASI. Também houve correlação estatisticamente significativa (p &#8804;0,001) entre o escore total do IDV e a pontuação no ITDV e o mesmo também ocorreu quando comparados cada domínio do IDV e o escore do ITDV. Considerações Finais: A associação entre avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz e avaliação de pregas vocais deve ser considerada padrão ouro no diagnóstico de distúrbio de voz. O ITDV é um instrumento válido para triagem e possui alto grau de sensibilidade. Assim, seu uso deve auxiliar no mapeamento do distúrbio de voz do professor, bem como no planejamento de ações de saúde pública e delineamento de políticas públicas referentes à saúde vocal dessa categoria profissional

Vid användning av audio-perceptuell röstanalys för framtagning av referensröster är begreppet reliabilitet av central betydelse. Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka reliabiliteten mellan erfarna röstlogopeders perceptuella röstanalys av ett antal utvalda röstexempel. Förhoppningen var att utifrån detta kunna sammanställa en början till ett referensröstmaterial bestående av manliga och kvinnliga referensröster representativa för olika parametrar i SVEA-protokollet. De specifika frågeställningarna var: Hur samstämmiga i perceptuell röstanalys är bedömarna kring de valda röstexemplens olika parametrar? Är någon eller några av de parametrar som bedömarna är överens om extra framträdande i någon röst så att denna röst kan användas som referensröst? Utifrån en databas med 65 röstinspelningar valdes 15 röstexempel ut av författarna att skattas av sju erfarna logopeder med SVEA-protokollet. En andra bedömningsomgång genomfördes med tre röstexempel slumpvis utvalda från de 15 röstexemplen i den första bedömningsomgången. Statistiska analyser av logopedernas inter- och intrabedömarreliabilitet gjordes både på alla röstexempel och på samtliga kvalitetsparametrar. Bedömarnas skattningar uppvisade mycket stor spridning i flera röstexempel, vilket inverkade på korrelationernas utfall och kan vid en första anblick ge ett missvisande resultat. En djupare analys av bedömarnas skattningar av enskilda röstparametrar visade på betydligt högre samstämmighet. Utifrån detta resultat tog författarna fram tre potentiella referensröster. Flera av de övriga 12 röstexemplen hade relativt hög interbedömarreliabilitet men då skattningsvärdena var så pass låga för dessa röster valdes de inte ut som referensröster. Trots låga skattningsvärden skulle dessa röstexempel kunna användas som referensröster för att exemplifiera lägre grader av avvikelser. Slutsatsen är att det finns skillnader i hur bedömarna skattat röstexemplen i denna studie och reliabiliteten mellan bedömarna skiftar. Författarna drar även slutsatsen att det är motiverat att fortsätta leta och analysera röstexempel för att få en heltäckande uppsättning referensröster. Metodvalet i denna studie anses vara en framkomlig väg för att fortsätta forma detta referensröstmaterial. / Interrater and intrarater reliability are of great importance in the selection of reference voice examples. The purpose of this study is to investigate the reliability of experienced speech and language pathologists’ evaluations of selected voice samples. The aim is to begin a collection of male and female reference voice examples which represent different voice quality parameters according to the Stockholm Voice Evaluation Approach (SVEA). The specific questions are: How well do speech and language pathologists agree when rating voices along different voice quality parameters? Are any of the voice quality parameters in the speech samples prominent enough to be qualified as reference voice examples? The authors selected 15 voice samples out of a database consisting of 65 voice samples. The voices were evaluated by seven experienced speech and language pathologists using the SVEA protocol. The results were statistically analyzed to study interrater reliability. In order to investigate intrarater reliability a second evaluation session was carried out in which the speech and language pathologists evaluated three voice samples randomly selected from the 15 samples used in the first evaluation session. The results showed a wide range in the raters’ evaluations, which had an impact on the correlations. However, a closer look at separate parameters indicated considerably higher similarity in the ratings. Based on these results three reference voice examples were selected. Even though high correlation values were found in several of the other twelve voice samples, the ratings in these were not high enough to qualify them as reference voice examples in this study. Nevertheless, these voices can still be used to exemplify various degrees of deviation. The conclusions are that there is a great variation regarding reliability between and within raters and also regarding how the different speech and language pathologists rate the voices. The authors also conclude that the search for clear reference voice examples is highly motivated and ought to be continued, preferably with the method used in this study.

No description available.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho visa caracterizar formal, semÃntica e pragmaticamente as construÃÃes passivas, mÃdias e impessoais, com o fim de elucidar a natureza da relaÃÃo entre estas construÃÃes, no portuguÃs arcaico, relaÃÃo essa observada em trabalhos, como os de Camacho (2002, 2003, 2006), para o portuguÃs atual. Parte do princÃpio de que o traÃo comum a essas construÃÃes à a nÃo-atribuiÃÃo de causalidade, e de que estas construÃÃes refletem diferentes conceitualizaÃÃes de um evento. Com base nesses princÃpios, analisa, numa abordagem cognitivo-funcional (GIVÃN, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2005; KEMMER, 1993; CAMACHO, 2002, 2003; HOPPER & THOMPSON, 1980; POTTIER, 1992; CROFT, 1994, 1998; LANGACKER, 1987, 1991; DELANCEY, 1987; TALMY, 1988, 2000; LAKOFF, 1977), a codificaÃÃo da funÃÃo nÃo-atribuiÃÃo de causalidade na CrÃnica Geral da Espanha de 1344, prosa histÃrica representante do portuguÃs arcaico, editada por Cintra (1951). Nessa anÃlise, busca respostas para os seguintes problemas: (a) dos recursos verbais disponÃveis, no corpus analisado, para a expressÃo da nÃo-atribuiÃÃo de causalidade, qual a mais e a menos prototÃpica? (b) que traÃos semÃntico-pragmÃticos e formais caracterizam as diferentes estratÃgias? A hipÃtese central considera que as construÃÃes analisadas codificam a nÃo-atribuiÃÃo da causalidade em variados graus, conforme fatores ligados à noÃÃo de causalidade e à transitividade, como a perspectivaÃÃo e a saliÃncia. Foram coletadas 1061 ocorrÃncias e analisadas quanto a fatores pragmÃticos, como a topicalidade e o estatuto informacional; fatores semÃnticos, como saliÃncia cognitiva do Afetado e do Causativo, traÃo [animado], tipo de afetaÃÃo; e fatores formais, como a ordem e a expressÃo. AlÃm disso, todas foram graduadas quanto ao grau de transitividade e de relevo discursivo. Os resultados apontaram que a mÃdia à a mais prototÃpica das construÃÃes de nÃo-atribuiÃÃo de causalidade, por ser a que apresenta causativo menos saliente e menor grau de transitividade. A passiva, mais freqÃente no corpus e, muitas vezes, com Causativo omitido, caracterizou-se como menos prototÃpica por seu Causativo ser freqÃentemente evocado e apresentar maior grau de transitividade. Do mesmo modo, a impessoal, cujo causativo à freqÃentemente inferÃvel, manifestou-se como mais causativa e mais transitiva que a mÃdia, todavia menos que a passiva. A anÃlise demonstrou, enfim, que o fenÃmeno da nÃo-atribuiÃÃo de causalidade nÃo à um fenÃmeno isolado, limitado à manifestaÃÃo ou nÃo de um Agente. Submete-se a graus e acha-se ligado, especialmente, ao contorno tÃmporo-aspectual do evento. Devido à noÃÃo experiencial de causalidade, ligada à idÃia de movimento, eventos perfectivos sÃo mais causais que eventos imperfectivos. / This work aims to characterize formally, semantically and pragmatically the passive, middle and impersonal constructions, in order to elucidate the nature of relation between these constructions in a archaic Portuguese, a relation observed in researches, such as those of Camacho (2002, 2003, 2006), in modern Portuguese. The present research, thus, claims that the common feature of these constructions is the non-attribution of causality, and that they represent different event conceptualizations. Based on principles, founded on a cognitive-functional approach (GIVÃN, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2005; KEMMER, 1993; CAMACHO, 2002, 2003, 2006; HOPPER & THOMPSON, 1980; POTTIER, 1992; CROFT, 1994, 1998; LANGACKER, 1987, 1991; DELANCEY, 1987; TALMY, 1988, 2000; LAKOFF, 1977), the codification of the non-attribution of causality is analyzed in CrÃnica Geral de Espanha de 1344, a representative historical text in archaic Portuguese, edited by Cintra (1951). In this analysis, answers are sought for the following questions: (a) in the analyzed corpus, which is the most and the least prototypical verbal recourses available for the expression of the non-attribution of causality? (b) which semantic, pragmatical and formal features characterize the different strategies used for expressing the non-attribution of causality? The central hypothesis considers that analyzed constructions codify the non-attribution of causality at various degrees, according to aspects related to the causality notion, such as perspectivization and salience. A large number of occurrences (1061, in total) were collected and analyzed from the perspective of pragmatical aspects such as topicality and informational status; semantic aspects, such as cognitive salience of Affected and of Causative, animacy, affectation type; and formal aspects, such as order and expression. Moreover, all of such occurrences were graduated regarding the transitivity degree and the Grounding. The results indicate that middle construction is the most prototypical of the non-attribution of causality constructions, because it presents less salient causative and is posited in the least degree of transitivity. Passive, most frequent in the corpus and, often, with omitted causative, was characterized as the least prototypical construction because its causative is commonly evoked and it presents a higher degree of transitivity. Impersonal construction, whose causative is frequently inferable, was characterized as more causative and more transitive than the middle construction, however, less than passive. Therefore, the analyses demonstrated that non-attribution of causality is not an isolated phenomenon, limited to the manifestation of an Agent. It is subject to degrees of escalarization which is attached to temporal and aspectual event contours. Because of experiential notion of causality, linked to the idea movement, perfective events are more causal than imperfective ones.

This study aimed to determine the optimal time of tongue vibration technique (STVT) and acoustic measures of the glottal source, spectrographic acoustic measures and technical after- subjective sensations in women without complaints and/or voice disorders and/or laryngeal. Materials and Methods: 68 young adult women were submitted to otorhinolaryngologic evaluation and speech screening to eliminate possible changes that could interfere with the results of the study. Vocal samples were collected before and after performing three sets of 15 repetitions of STVT in maximum phonation time with normal tone and habitual intensity, and 30 seconds of passive rest between each series. The acoustic analysis of voice through the Multi Dimensional Voice Program Advanced and the Real Time Spectrogram software (Kay Pentax) was used to generate broadband and narrowband spectrograms before and after the execution of STVT. The analysis of the sensations after using STVT was assessed using a questionnaire for the survey. Data were tabulated into two groups: time of maintenance of STVT up to three minutes (n=24) and time of maintenance over three minutes (n=44). Results were analyzed statistically at the significance level of 5%. Statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student s t test using Minitab 15.0, Pearson s coefficient of correlation and comparison tests for two proportions. Results: a significant increase of frequencies (F0) and the average frequency (MF0) was observed when STVT was performed over three minutes. A significant improvement of the long-term stability measurement (vF0), of the jitter measurements (PPQ) and of harmonic noise ratio (HNR) was observed. There was a positive correlation in all aspects of the broadband and narrowband and most of the aspects presented a very strong correlation. A predominance of positive sensations in both time intervals was observed. A very strong positive correlation between spectrographic analysis and sensations was reported after STVT in almost all aspects evaluated in broadband and narrowband. Conclusion: there were significant differences between the measurements of the glottal source after three minutes of STVT, and no significant changes occurred in the measurements with time of performance up to three minutes. There were no significant differences of the broadband and narrowband results regarding time of maintenance. Correlations between spectrographic aspects and sensations after performing STVT were positive in both time intervals of the technique. Thus, the group studied we obtained positive results in the glottal source with more than three minutes to perform the STVT, where for positive results in the vocal tract, to perform three minutes was enough. / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar o tempo ideal da técnica de vibração lingual sonorizada (TVLS) e as medidas acústicas de fonte glótica, medidas acústicas espectrográficas, e sensações subjetivas pós-técnica em mulheres sem queixas e ou alterações vocais e/ou laríngeas. Materiais e Métodos: 68 mulheres adultas jovens foram submetidas à avaliação otorrinolaringológica e triagem fonoaudiológica, a fim de eliminar possíveis alterações que pudessem interferir nos resultados da pesquisa. As amostras vocais foram coletadas antes e após a realização de três séries de 15 repetições da TVLS em tempo máximo de fonação com tom e intensidade habituais e 30 segundos de repouso passivo entre cada série. Utilizou-se a análise acústica das vozes, pelo Multi Dimensional Voice Program Advanced e o software Real Time Spectrogram (Kay Pentax) para gerar espectrogramas de banda larga e de banda estreita antes e após a execução da TVLS. A análise das sensações subjetivas pós-TVLS foi avaliada a partir de um questionário elaborado para a pesquisa. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados em dois grupos: tempo de sustentação da TVLS de até três minutos (n=24) e tempo de sustentação superior a três minutos (n=44). Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente ao nível de significância de 5%, sendo que a estatística foi realizada através da análise de variância (ANOVA), do teste t de Student pelo programa minitab 15.0, testes do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e de comparação para duas proporções. Resultados: verificou-se, após mais de três minutos de execução da TVLS, aumento significante das frequências (f0) e da média das frequências (Mf0); melhora significativa da medida de estabilidade de longo prazo (vf0); melhora significativa da medida de jitter (PPQ) e melhora significante da proporção ruído harmônico (NHR). Verificou-se correlação positiva em todos os aspectos da banda larga e banda estreita e a maioria dos aspectos foi de correlação muito forte. Predominaram as sensações positivas em ambos os intervalos de tempo e a correlação entre a análise espectrográfica e as sensações relatadas após a realização da TVLS mostrou correlação positiva muito forte na quase totalidade dos aspectos avaliados em banda larga e banda estreita. Conclusão: houve diferença significativa entre as medidas de fonte glótica após três minutos de execução da TVLS e não ocorreram mudanças significativas das medidas com tempo de execução até três minutos. Não houve diferenças consideráveis dos resultados da banda larga e banda estreita conforme o tempo de sustentação. As correlações entre os aspectos espectrográficos e sensações após a execução da TVLS foram positivas em ambos os intervalos de tempo de realização da técnica. Dessa forma, no grupo estudado obteve-se resultados positivos ao nível da fonte glótica com mais de três minutos de realização da TVLS, sendo que, para resultados positivos ao nível do trato vocal, a execução de até três minutos de exercício foi suficiente.

The aim of this study was to describe the laryngeal anatomy, perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic vocal characteristics of school-aged children with and without ADHD. The predisposition that children with ADHD have for laryngeal injuries are recurrent in nature and are more often than not overlooked as laryngitis. Previous studies have reported varied results on the prevalence rates of paediatric VFN within the school-aged ADHD population. A static, two-group comparison was used in the study to investigate the clinical, perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic vocal characteristics of children between 7 and 9 years old with and without ADHD. The study replicated the protocol as executed by Barona-Lleo and Fernandez (2016) with additions. The Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP) and the Voice Range Profile (VRP) as additions to the assessment of vocal parameters were used with which comparable dysphonia severity index (DSI) scores were calculated. Once-off clinical, perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessments were conducted on 20 age-gender matched participants. The difference in assessment results between the vocal characteristics of children without a history of ADHD (control group) and those of children with ADHD (ADHD group) was then investigated and described. Forty five percent (n=9) of the total sample population had laryngeal pathology. Comparable parent reported etiological voice symptoms and vocal habits were seen across both groups. Both groups performed similarly across both perceptual and aerodynamic voice assessments. Acoustically, the control group achieved significantly higher producible pitches than the ADHD group (p=0.028) and were found to have more dysphonic DSI scores than their ADHD group peers (p=0.034). Prepubertal, school-aged children with or without ADHD may have similar vocal characteristics than previously thought. This variation in school-aged children warrants further research into larger sample sizes with this population with a special focus on the effect that CNS stimulants may have on the voice. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MCommunication Pathology / Unrestricted

The objectives of this research were to (1) characterize the demographics and vocal health history of collegiate-level singers, particularly those with a voice disorder and (2) describe and compare self-reported symptoms of singers across diagnostic categories of vocal fold disorders. Clinical reports of 56 collegiate-level singers (15 male and 41 female) who visited the Voice Diagnostic Clinic at the University of North Texas for voice evaluations between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed. Information was extracted from clinical records including demographic data, vocal health history, self-reported voice-related symptoms, and voice diagnosis confirmed by strobolaryngoscopic examinations and phonatory function testing. Diagnoses of voice disorders were grouped under three categories: normal (i.e., no perceptible pathology), benign lesions and irritation/inflammation. Seven singers were diagnosed as normal, 27 (51.8%) with benign lesions, and 22 (39.3%) with irritation/inflammation. All singers diagnosed as normal were females. Female singers have twice as many benign lesions as irritation/inflammation whereas males presented the opposite pattern. Nodules, polyps, cysts and irritation/inflammation were the most common voice disorders. Singers with allergies and a past history of voice problems demonstrated a higher incidence of voice disorders. The top five self-reported vocal symptoms were worse voice in the morning (50%), pain in throat (46.4%), voice worse with prolonged use (44.6%), vocal fatigue (42.9%), and breathiness (41.1%). Self-reported symptoms are not a reliable screening tool to determine presence or absence of vocal pathology. Voice teachers must be familiar with the singing and speaking voice of each student, so as to perceive early onset of vocal attrition symptoms and encourage the student in seeking medical attention.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka sånglärares syn på röstbenämningar och röstkvaliteter inom sångundervisning samt deras beskrivningar av arbetet med röstregisterbenämningar i undervisningen. Studiens teoretiska ramverk utgörs av diskursanalys med en diskurspsykologisk ansats. Datainsamlingsmetoden har utgjorts av fokusgruppssamtal där lärare från olika typer av sångundervisningssammanhang har samtalat om sin syn på röstregister. Samtalen skedde via videosamtal och spelades in med ljud och bild. Efter transkriptionen av samtalen analyserades materialet med diskursanalys för att urskilja diverse tolkningsrepertoarer. I resultatet framgår ett antal tolkningsrepertoarer där sånglärarnas formuleringar kring, användande av och erfarenheter kring röstregisterbenämningar lyfts. Resultatet visar att sånglärarna anpassar benämningarna beroende på elevernas förståelse, vilket pekar mot en individualisering utifrån ålder och nivå. I sånglärarnas uttalanden framgår en kontrast vad gäller sätt att arbeta med röstbenämningar i undervisningen, det vill säga som något uttalat eller som något outsagt. I resultatet framgår hur vissa av lärarna konstruerar och argumenterar för begreppen som knutna till musikaliska inriktningar. Dessutom lyfts en uppfattning att sångläraren hellre lär ut något som denne själv är väl bevandrad i, vilket tydliggör ännu en möjlig slutsats: att sångläraren lär ut inom området som denne kan, snarare än vad som eleven är mest bekväm i.I lärarnas uttalanden framgår en tolkningsrepertoar i hur sånglärarnas egna frustrationer och erfarenheter av svårigheter blivit en drivkraft för deras undervisning. I diskussionen lyfts de i resultatet mest framträdande tolkningsrepertoarerna och diskuteras i relation till det teoretiska perspektivet och tidigare presenterad relevant litteratur och forskning. / The purpose of this study is to examine voice teachers’ perspective on terms regarding voice registers and their descriptions of the work with voice registers in voice education. The theoretical framework of the study is discourse analysis with a discourse psychological approach. The method for data collection was focus groups, where voice teachers from a variety of voice educations talked about their views on voice registers. The conversations were conducted via a video call and were recorded with both audio and video. After the transcription, the material was analysed with discourse analysis to distinguish various interpretative repertoires. The result shows a number of interpretative repertoires as the voice teachers describe their constructions, uses of and experiences regarding voice registers. The result shows that the voice teachers adapt the terms depending on the understanding of the pupils, which indicates an individualization based on age and level of education. In the voice teachers’ statements a contrast is evident in ways of working with register terms, that is, as something articulated or unarticulated. The result shows how some of the educators construct and argue for the use of concepts in relation to musical genres. In addition, a view is raised that the voice educator rather teachssomething in which he or she is familiar with, which clarifies yet another possible conclusion: that the voice educator teaches in the field that he or she is mastering, rather than what the pupil is most comfortable with. In the statements of the voice teachers an interpretative repertoire appears in how the voice educators' own frustration and experience of difficulties have become a driving force for their own teaching. In the discussion, the most prominent interpretative repertoires are raised from the results and discussed in relation to the theoretical perspective and previously presented relevant literature and research.