Relative fundamental frequency (RFF) is an acoustic measure that quantifies short-term changes in fundamental frequency during voicing transitions surrounding a voiceless consonant. RFF is hypothesized to be decreased by increased laryngeal tension during voice production and has been considered a potential objective measure of vocal hyperfunction. Previous studies have supported claims that decreased RFF values may indicate the severity of vocal hyperfunction and have attempted to improve the methods to obtain RFF. In order to make progress towards developing RFF into a clinical measure, this dissertation aimed to investigate further the validity and reliability of RFF. Specifically, we examined the underlying physiological mechanisms, the auditory-perceptual relationship with strained voice quality, and test-retest reliability. The first study evaluated one of the previously hypothesized physiological mechanisms for RFF, vocal fold abduction. Vocal fold kinematics and RFF were obtained from both younger and older typical speakers producing RFF stimuli with voiceless fricatives and stops during high-speed videoendoscopy. We did not find any statistical differences between younger and older speakers, but we found that vocal folds were less adducted and RFF was lower at voicing onset after the voiceless stop compared to the fricative. This finding is in accordance with the hypothesized positive association between vocal fold contact area during voicing transitions and RFF. The second study examined the relationship between RFF and strain, a major auditory-perceptual feature of vocal hyperfunction. RFF values were synthetically modified by exchanging the RFF contours between voice samples that were produced with a comfortable voice and with maximum vocal effort, while other acoustic features remained constant. We observed that comfortable voice samples with the RFF values of maximum vocal effort samples had increased strain ratings, whereas maximum vocal effort samples with the RFF values of comfortable voice samples had decreased strain ratings. These findings support the contribution of RFF to perceived strain. The third study compared the test-retest reliability of RFF with that of conventional voice measures. We recorded individuals with healthy voices during five consecutive days and obtained acoustic, aerodynamic, and auditory-perceptual measures from the recordings. RFF was comparably reliable as acoustic and aerodynamic measures and more reliable than auditory-perceptual measures. This dissertation supports the translational potential of RFF by providing empirical evidence of the physiological mechanisms of RFF, the relationship between RFF and perceived strain, and test-retest reliability of RFF. Clinical applications of RFF are expected to improve objective diagnosis and assessment of vocal hyperfunction, and thus to lead to better voice care for individuals with vocal hyperfunction. / 2021-09-25T00:00:00Z

Quantitative measures of laryngeal muscle tension are needed to improve assessment and track clinical progress. Although relative fundamental frequency (RFF) shows promise as an acoustic estimate of laryngeal muscle tension, it is not yet transferable to the clinic. The purpose of this work was to refine algorithmic estimation of RFF, as well as to enhance the knowledge surrounding the physiological underpinnings of RFF. The first study used a large database of voice samples collected from 227 speakers with voice disorders and 256 typical speakers to evaluate the effects of fundamental frequency estimation techniques and voice sample characteristics on algorithmic RFF estimation. By refining fundamental frequency estimation using the Auditory Sawtooth Waveform Inspired Pitch Estimator—Prime (Auditory-SWIPE′) algorithm and accounting for sample characteristics via the acoustic measure, pitch strength, algorithmic errors related to the accuracy and precision of RFF were reduced by 88.4% and 17.3%, respectively. The second study sought to characterize the physiological factors influencing acoustic outputs of RFF estimation. A group of 53 speakers with voice disorders and 69 typical speakers each produced the utterance, /ifi/, while simultaneous recordings were collected using a microphone and flexible nasendoscope. Acoustic features calculated via the microphone signal were examined in reference to the physiological initiation and termination of vocal fold vibration. The features that corresponded with these transitions were then implemented into the RFF algorithm, leading to significant improvements in the precision of the RFF algorithm to reflect the underlying physiological mechanisms for voicing offsets (p < .001, V = .60) and onsets (p < .001, V = .54) when compared to manual RFF estimation. The third study further elucidated the physiological underpinnings of RFF by examining the contribution of vocal fold abduction to RFF during intervocalic voicing offsets. Vocal fold abductory patterns were compared to RFF values in a subset of speakers from the second study, comprising young adults, older adults, and older adults with Parkinson’s disease. Abductory patterns were not significantly different among the three groups; however, vocal fold abduction was observed to play a significant role in measures of RFF at voicing offset. By improving algorithmic estimation and elucidating aspects of the underlying physiology affecting RFF, this work adds to the utility of RFF for use in conjunction with current clinical techniques to assess laryngeal muscle tension. / 2021-09-29T00:00:00Z

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No description available.

O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar efeitos imediatos dos exercícios de vibração sonorizada e som basal em vozes saudáveis por meio de ferramentas de avaliação vocal. Participaram do estudo trinta adultos saudáveis de ambos os gêneros (12 homens e 18 mulheres), com idade entre 19 a 45 anos, sem queixa vocal. Foram gravadas as vogais sustentadas /a/ e /E/ em dois momentos. A primeira gravação foi realizada antes de exercícios vocais, a segunda gravação foi realizada após os participantes emitirem de 3 a 5 minutos de vibrações sonorizadas ou um minuto de som basal. As gravações de vogais sustentada /a/ e /E/ foram submetidas às análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. Também foram gravadas videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade entre os momentos pré e pós-exercícios vocais para a avaliação quimográfica destas imagens. Resultados: a análise perceptivo-auditiva da impressão global da voz apresentou diferença estatística para ambos exercícios para a vogal sustentada /a/ (p = 0,016 para vibração sonorizada e p = 0,046 para som basal). Após a técnica de vibração sonorizada, a análise acústica apresentou diminuição significativa aos parâmetros: nivelamento espectral do filtro (SFF) e mobilidade glótica (GM), em vogais sustentadas /a/ de vozes femininas (p = 0,01 para SFF e p = 0,04 para GM); no coeficiente de perturbação do período (Jitter) em ambos os gêneros, para vogais sustentadas /E/ (p = 0,018 para homens e p < 0,01 para mulheres); e na perturbação da amplitude (Shimmer) e SFF para vogais sustentadas /E/ em vozes femininas (p < 0,01 para Shimmer e p = 0,048 para SFF). Após o exercício de som basal houve diminuição nos parâmetros: Jitter (p < 0,01) em vozes femininas e presença de ruído no espectrograma (p = 0,02). A avaliação das quimografias extraídas de videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade após o exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou decréscimo do parâmetro fase fechada (p = 0,046); aumento de fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) e aumento na vibração de amplitude (p < 0,01), em pregas vocais femininas. Após o exercício de som basal foi observado aumento significativo ao parâmetro fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) em pregas vocais masculinas. Conclusão: O exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou efeitos imediatos positivos na qualidade vocal e pregas vocais, principalmente de mulheres. No entanto, são necessárias pesquisas com maior número de amostras masculinas; assim como é necessário pesquisas do tempo adequado do exercício de som basal para melhor investigação e corroboração dos resultados desta pesquisa. / The aim is to detect the immediate effect of vocal exercises in normal voices. Thirty healthy subjects from 19 to 45 year old with no vocal complains participated in the study. The sustained vowels /a/ and /E/ were recorded in two moments: the first, we recorded the habitual voice, before any exercises; and the second, after from 1 to 5 minutes of continuous voiced vibration or vocal fry exercises. Considering the two moments, recordings were submitted to perceptual examination, acoustic and high speed videolaryngoscopy evaluation. We analyzed perceptual, acoustic and spectrographic parameters of sustained vowels /a/ and /E/; as well as, videokymography parameters of high speed laryngeal images. Results: for perceptual analyses there were differences for both exercises (p = 0.016 for vibration and p = 0.046 for vocal fry of sustained vowels /a/). Jitter presented difference after voiced vibration exercises for female and male voices. Shimmer and Spectral Flatness Filter (SFF) showed difference only for female voices. After vocal fry exercises Jitter was lower only for female voices for sustained vowels /E/ (<0.01). Spectrum noise level presented difference after vocal fry exercises for sustained vowels /E/ (p = 0.02). For vibration voiced technique high-speed videolaryngoscopy showed difference for closed phase and closing phase only for female (p = 0.046 and p = 0.026, respectively). After vocal fry exercise we found difference for closing phase only for male (p = 0.026). Vibration amplitude of vocal folds increased only for women after vibration voice exercises (p < 0.01). Vibration voiced technique seems to cause positive immediate effects in voice quality, especially for women voices.

O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar efeitos imediatos dos exercícios de vibração sonorizada e som basal em vozes saudáveis por meio de ferramentas de avaliação vocal. Participaram do estudo trinta adultos saudáveis de ambos os gêneros (12 homens e 18 mulheres), com idade entre 19 a 45 anos, sem queixa vocal. Foram gravadas as vogais sustentadas /a/ e /E/ em dois momentos. A primeira gravação foi realizada antes de exercícios vocais, a segunda gravação foi realizada após os participantes emitirem de 3 a 5 minutos de vibrações sonorizadas ou um minuto de som basal. As gravações de vogais sustentada /a/ e /E/ foram submetidas às análises perceptivo-auditiva e acústica. Também foram gravadas videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade entre os momentos pré e pós-exercícios vocais para a avaliação quimográfica destas imagens. Resultados: a análise perceptivo-auditiva da impressão global da voz apresentou diferença estatística para ambos exercícios para a vogal sustentada /a/ (p = 0,016 para vibração sonorizada e p = 0,046 para som basal). Após a técnica de vibração sonorizada, a análise acústica apresentou diminuição significativa aos parâmetros: nivelamento espectral do filtro (SFF) e mobilidade glótica (GM), em vogais sustentadas /a/ de vozes femininas (p = 0,01 para SFF e p = 0,04 para GM); no coeficiente de perturbação do período (Jitter) em ambos os gêneros, para vogais sustentadas /E/ (p = 0,018 para homens e p < 0,01 para mulheres); e na perturbação da amplitude (Shimmer) e SFF para vogais sustentadas /E/ em vozes femininas (p < 0,01 para Shimmer e p = 0,048 para SFF). Após o exercício de som basal houve diminuição nos parâmetros: Jitter (p < 0,01) em vozes femininas e presença de ruído no espectrograma (p = 0,02). A avaliação das quimografias extraídas de videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade após o exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou decréscimo do parâmetro fase fechada (p = 0,046); aumento de fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) e aumento na vibração de amplitude (p < 0,01), em pregas vocais femininas. Após o exercício de som basal foi observado aumento significativo ao parâmetro fase de fechamento (p = 0,026) em pregas vocais masculinas. Conclusão: O exercício de vibração sonorizada apresentou efeitos imediatos positivos na qualidade vocal e pregas vocais, principalmente de mulheres. No entanto, são necessárias pesquisas com maior número de amostras masculinas; assim como é necessário pesquisas do tempo adequado do exercício de som basal para melhor investigação e corroboração dos resultados desta pesquisa. / The aim is to detect the immediate effect of vocal exercises in normal voices. Thirty healthy subjects from 19 to 45 year old with no vocal complains participated in the study. The sustained vowels /a/ and /E/ were recorded in two moments: the first, we recorded the habitual voice, before any exercises; and the second, after from 1 to 5 minutes of continuous voiced vibration or vocal fry exercises. Considering the two moments, recordings were submitted to perceptual examination, acoustic and high speed videolaryngoscopy evaluation. We analyzed perceptual, acoustic and spectrographic parameters of sustained vowels /a/ and /E/; as well as, videokymography parameters of high speed laryngeal images. Results: for perceptual analyses there were differences for both exercises (p = 0.016 for vibration and p = 0.046 for vocal fry of sustained vowels /a/). Jitter presented difference after voiced vibration exercises for female and male voices. Shimmer and Spectral Flatness Filter (SFF) showed difference only for female voices. After vocal fry exercises Jitter was lower only for female voices for sustained vowels /E/ (<0.01). Spectrum noise level presented difference after vocal fry exercises for sustained vowels /E/ (p = 0.02). For vibration voiced technique high-speed videolaryngoscopy showed difference for closed phase and closing phase only for female (p = 0.046 and p = 0.026, respectively). After vocal fry exercise we found difference for closing phase only for male (p = 0.026). Vibration amplitude of vocal folds increased only for women after vibration voice exercises (p < 0.01). Vibration voiced technique seems to cause positive immediate effects in voice quality, especially for women voices.

O objetivo é caracterizar a voz e vibração glótica de pregas vocais com paralisia unilateral. Método: trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo que utilizou o banco de dados do grupo de pesquisa em engenharia médica da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Foram utilizados dados de 35 pacientes adultos (11 homens e 24 mulheres) e cinco instrumentos de análise multidimensional. O primeiro deles foi o protocolo de auto-avaliação (Índice de Desvantagem Vocal - IDV). Foram extraídos os escores de domínio: físico, orgânico, emocional e total. Foram utilizados sinais de voz para realizar as análises: perceptivo-auditiva (escala analógica visual - EVA e parâmetros: grau global - G, rugosidade - R, soprosidade - S, tensão - T e Instabilidade na emissão vocal - I); acústica tradicional (parâmetros de perturbação - Jitter e Shimmer), experimental (parâmetro Coaptação Glótica - CG) e a análise não linear (NL) da dinâmica vocal (parâmetros qualitativos: número de loops, graus de convergência e regularidade; e quantitativos: desvio padrão do eixo e da dispersão - DPE, DPD). A quinta análise utilizou quimografias geradas de videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade para extração de parâmetros quantitativos (Razão de Abertura - RA, de Fechamento - RF e Assimetria). Análise estatística: descritiva e correlação de Spearman. Resultados: A análise perceptiva caracterizou intensidade moderada do desvio vocal. A rugosidade foi o tipo de voz predominante em amostras masculinas (55,84%) e a soprosidade em amostras femininas (63,59%). Os domínios de IDV apresentaram baixo impacto da disfonia na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Houve correlação do domínio físico com S em amostras masculinas e com todos os parâmetros perceptivos em amostras femininas. Ambas as amostras apresentaram parâmetros de perturbação aumentados (Jitter: 0,90% homens e 1,20% mulheres; Shimmer: 3,30% homens e 2,76% mulheres), e de CG diminuídos (0,28 homens e 0,25 mulheres). Amostras femininas apresentaram correlação de Jitter e Shimmer com os parâmetros perceptivos. Amostras masculinas apresentaram correlação de Jitter com R e de Shimmer com R e T. A CG correlacionou com a S e l em amostras masculinas. Na análise NL da dinâmica vocal de ambas as amostras apresentaram reduzidos: número de loops, grau de convergência e de regularidade, enquanto que os valores de DPE e DPD apresentaram-se aumentados. Houve correlação de parâmetros perceptuais com os da análise NL em ambas as amostras. Os resultados de parâmetros quimográficos são: RA 1,55 para homens e 1,50 para mulheres; RF 0,37 para homens e 0,18 para mulheres; e Assimetria: 23,68º para homens e 9, 85º para mulheres. Todos os parâmetros perceptuais femininos correlacionaram com os quimográficos, exceto a I. A I de amostras masculinas correlacionou com RF. Conclusão: a caracterização vocal de pacientes com paralisia unilateral de pregas vocais foi possível usando a avaliação multidimensional da voz. / The goal is to characterize the voice and glottal vibration of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Method: this is a retrospective study that used database samples of Universidade de São Carlos\'s research group in medical engineering. Data from 35 adults patients (11 men and 24 women) and five were used. They were used five tools for multidimensional analysis. The first one was the self-assessment protocol (Voice Handicap Index - VHI). Physical, organic, emotional and total scores were extracted. Voice signals were used in analyzes: perceptual (visual analogue scale - VAS and parameters: overall degrees - G, roughness - R, Breathiness - B, tension - T and instability in phonation - I); traditional acoustic (perturbation parameters - Jitter and Shimmer), experimental (glottal cloure parameter - GC) and nonlinear (NL) dynamic vocal analysis (Qualitative: number of loops, regularity and convergence degree. Quantitative: standard deviation of dispersion - SDD and standard deviation of the axis - SDA). The fifth analysis it was performed through extraction of kymographic parameters generated of the High speed videolaryngoscopys (Opening reason - Or; Closed reason - Cr and Asymmetry). Statistical analysis: descriptive and Spearman correlation. Results: perceptual analysis characterized moderate intensity of vocal deviation. Roughness was the predominant kind of voice in males samples (55,84%) and Breathiness in females samples (63,59%). VHI\'s scores showed low impact of dysphonia in the patients\' quality of life. There was correlation between score physical and B in the male samples and between score physical and all perceptual parameters in the female samples. Both samples showed increased of perturbation parameters (Jitter: 0.90% men and 1.20% women and Shimmer: 3.30% men and 2.76% women) and GC decreased (0.28 men and women 0.25). Female samples showed correlation of Jitter and Shimmer with all perceptual parameters. Male samples showed correlation of Jitter with the R and Shimmer with R and T. GC correlation with B and I only male samples. Qualitative NL dynamic vocal analysis showed number of loops, regularity and convergence degree reduced, whereas quantitative analysis of SDD and SDA increased. There were correlations between perceptual parameters and of nonlinear dynamic vocal analysis for both the samples. Results of Kymographic parameters are Or: 1.55 for men and 1.50 for women; Cr: 0.37 for men and 0.18 for women; and Asymmetry: 23.68º for men and 9.85º for women. All perceptual parameters correlate with Or and Cr at female samples, except I. Male samples showed correlation between I and Cr. Conclusion: the vocal characterization of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis was possible using the multidimensional voice assessment.

O objetivo é caracterizar a voz e vibração glótica de pregas vocais com paralisia unilateral. Método: trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo que utilizou o banco de dados do grupo de pesquisa em engenharia médica da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Foram utilizados dados de 35 pacientes adultos (11 homens e 24 mulheres) e cinco instrumentos de análise multidimensional. O primeiro deles foi o protocolo de auto-avaliação (Índice de Desvantagem Vocal - IDV). Foram extraídos os escores de domínio: físico, orgânico, emocional e total. Foram utilizados sinais de voz para realizar as análises: perceptivo-auditiva (escala analógica visual - EVA e parâmetros: grau global - G, rugosidade - R, soprosidade - S, tensão - T e Instabilidade na emissão vocal - I); acústica tradicional (parâmetros de perturbação - Jitter e Shimmer), experimental (parâmetro Coaptação Glótica - CG) e a análise não linear (NL) da dinâmica vocal (parâmetros qualitativos: número de loops, graus de convergência e regularidade; e quantitativos: desvio padrão do eixo e da dispersão - DPE, DPD). A quinta análise utilizou quimografias geradas de videolaringoscopias em alta velocidade para extração de parâmetros quantitativos (Razão de Abertura - RA, de Fechamento - RF e Assimetria). Análise estatística: descritiva e correlação de Spearman. Resultados: A análise perceptiva caracterizou intensidade moderada do desvio vocal. A rugosidade foi o tipo de voz predominante em amostras masculinas (55,84%) e a soprosidade em amostras femininas (63,59%). Os domínios de IDV apresentaram baixo impacto da disfonia na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Houve correlação do domínio físico com S em amostras masculinas e com todos os parâmetros perceptivos em amostras femininas. Ambas as amostras apresentaram parâmetros de perturbação aumentados (Jitter: 0,90% homens e 1,20% mulheres; Shimmer: 3,30% homens e 2,76% mulheres), e de CG diminuídos (0,28 homens e 0,25 mulheres). Amostras femininas apresentaram correlação de Jitter e Shimmer com os parâmetros perceptivos. Amostras masculinas apresentaram correlação de Jitter com R e de Shimmer com R e T. A CG correlacionou com a S e l em amostras masculinas. Na análise NL da dinâmica vocal de ambas as amostras apresentaram reduzidos: número de loops, grau de convergência e de regularidade, enquanto que os valores de DPE e DPD apresentaram-se aumentados. Houve correlação de parâmetros perceptuais com os da análise NL em ambas as amostras. Os resultados de parâmetros quimográficos são: RA 1,55 para homens e 1,50 para mulheres; RF 0,37 para homens e 0,18 para mulheres; e Assimetria: 23,68º para homens e 9, 85º para mulheres. Todos os parâmetros perceptuais femininos correlacionaram com os quimográficos, exceto a I. A I de amostras masculinas correlacionou com RF. Conclusão: a caracterização vocal de pacientes com paralisia unilateral de pregas vocais foi possível usando a avaliação multidimensional da voz. / The goal is to characterize the voice and glottal vibration of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Method: this is a retrospective study that used database samples of Universidade de São Carlos\'s research group in medical engineering. Data from 35 adults patients (11 men and 24 women) and five were used. They were used five tools for multidimensional analysis. The first one was the self-assessment protocol (Voice Handicap Index - VHI). Physical, organic, emotional and total scores were extracted. Voice signals were used in analyzes: perceptual (visual analogue scale - VAS and parameters: overall degrees - G, roughness - R, Breathiness - B, tension - T and instability in phonation - I); traditional acoustic (perturbation parameters - Jitter and Shimmer), experimental (glottal cloure parameter - GC) and nonlinear (NL) dynamic vocal analysis (Qualitative: number of loops, regularity and convergence degree. Quantitative: standard deviation of dispersion - SDD and standard deviation of the axis - SDA). The fifth analysis it was performed through extraction of kymographic parameters generated of the High speed videolaryngoscopys (Opening reason - Or; Closed reason - Cr and Asymmetry). Statistical analysis: descriptive and Spearman correlation. Results: perceptual analysis characterized moderate intensity of vocal deviation. Roughness was the predominant kind of voice in males samples (55,84%) and Breathiness in females samples (63,59%). VHI\'s scores showed low impact of dysphonia in the patients\' quality of life. There was correlation between score physical and B in the male samples and between score physical and all perceptual parameters in the female samples. Both samples showed increased of perturbation parameters (Jitter: 0.90% men and 1.20% women and Shimmer: 3.30% men and 2.76% women) and GC decreased (0.28 men and women 0.25). Female samples showed correlation of Jitter and Shimmer with all perceptual parameters. Male samples showed correlation of Jitter with the R and Shimmer with R and T. GC correlation with B and I only male samples. Qualitative NL dynamic vocal analysis showed number of loops, regularity and convergence degree reduced, whereas quantitative analysis of SDD and SDA increased. There were correlations between perceptual parameters and of nonlinear dynamic vocal analysis for both the samples. Results of Kymographic parameters are Or: 1.55 for men and 1.50 for women; Cr: 0.37 for men and 0.18 for women; and Asymmetry: 23.68º for men and 9.85º for women. All perceptual parameters correlate with Or and Cr at female samples, except I. Male samples showed correlation between I and Cr. Conclusion: the vocal characterization of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis was possible using the multidimensional voice assessment.

Background Previous research has emphasized the importance of objectivity in voice quality evaluation. Acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) is a multiparametric objective index, that quantifies overall voice quality. Over the past decade, international studies have demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of AVQI to voice disorders. Ithas yet been inconclusive whether AVQI is independent of factors such as age and gender or if AVQI is affected by different types of continuous speech segments.  Aim  The aim of this study is to gather descriptive data regarding AVQI’s performance in a healthy Swedish-speaking population. Another objective is to investigate the potential impact of varying characteristics, such as age and gender, and type of continuous speech samples on the AVQI values.  Method  The present study gathered speech samples from 137 participants aged 20 to 90 years with a balanced gender distribution. These samples contained two different types of continuous speech, from which separate AVQI valuesin the acoustic analysis were computed. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was then used to study the effects of age, gender, and type of continuous speech used on the resulting AVQI values.  Results  Descriptive normative data was gathered for the overall voice quality of the age groups included in this study. A statistically significant main effect of age on the AVQI values was observed. Statistical analysis revealed no significant effect of speech type, speaker gender or the interaction of age and gender on the AVQI values.   Conclusions  In conclusion, the present study offered data for AVQI values in the Swedish-speaking population. AVQI scores were higher in older participants compared to the younger participants. No other significant effects were found in this study. AVQI values obtained in this study and comparisons carried out with international AVQI values indicatepotentially successful use of the acoustic voice quality index in the Swedish-speaking population with some precautions.