The thyroid gland is positioned directly below the larynx in the anterior portion of the neck (Kumrow & Dahlen, 2002). The nerves and arteries of the thyroid and larynx are intertwined thus damage to one structure could easily affect the other structure. Thyroid dysfunction may also affect the histology of the larynx thus changing vocal quality (Stemple, 2010). This study measured vocal quality of patients with thyroid disease using the Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). Voice samples from 16 subjects with thyroid disease were compared to an age-matched group of 18 control subjects with no reported history of thyroid dysfunction. An experienced voice clinician rated each sample on the six parameters of the CAPE-V: overall severity, roughness, breathiness, strain, pitch and loudness. Statistical analysis of the results revealed a significant difference between the thyroid disease group and the control group for overall severity of vocal quality and vocal roughness. These results further strengthen the connection between thyroid disease and vocal dysfunction. Further research is warranted to explore the specific thyroid diagnoses that relate to vocal dysfunction, as well as to strengthen the findings on a larger population of participants. / Lori Lombard, Ph.D., CCC-SLP David Stein, Ph. D., CCC-SLP Jill Brady, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to conduct perceptual analyses, using the initial two-second portions, of prolonged vowels /a/, /i/, and /o/. Two groups of adolescents and young adults were analyzed- one group consisting of 20 individuals with Friedreich's ataxia who were compared to 20 individuals with normal voice (control participants). A trained group of 10 graduate students listened to 132 vowel samples (3 vowels X 40 participants, + 12 samples (10%) for reliability purposes) for a total of 132 perceptual judgments. The students listened to the samples which were randomized onto Dell computers (Optiplex 755) and played through headphones that were set at a comfortable level by the listeners prior to analyzing the voice samples. Listeners used a modified version of the Consensus-Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-VM) to rate the vocal qualities of 'roughness', 'breathiness', and 'strain' in the samples on a 100 millimeter visual analog scale with 0 representing a perception of no roughness, breathiness, or strain, and 100 indicating the most extreme amount of variance from normal voice quality. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine if perceptual measures were significantly different between the two groups. Values on these analyses were expected to be larger for individuals with Friedreich's ataxia than those with normal voice. Results revealed that all three measures were significantly different between the two groups, with those in the Friedreich's ataxia group reported as having increased rough, breathy, and strained components in their voice quality as compared to normal voiced peers. Findings support perceptual measures as useful indicators for reporting changes in the phonatory system due to Friedreich's ataxia.

Rating scales are commonly used to study voice quality. The purpose of this study was to examine inter-rater reliability/agreement of graduate student clinicians with differing levels of experience in rating voice perception. The Consensus Auditory Perception Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) was used to asses 1.) overall severity, 2.) roughness, 3.) breathiness, 4.) strain, 5.) pitch and 6.) loudness from a sample of pediatric voices. Twenty-four graduate clinicians who had completed a graduate level course in voice disorders participated in the study. Twelve of the participants were randomly selected to complete a perceptual training course prior to the evaluation session. Voice samples included 10 disordered and 2 normal voices from a population of children age 3-10 years old. The 12 voice samples were randomly repeated 3 times. Results of analysis of variance indicated that the groups significantly differed in their severity rating of the perceptual indices, suggesting that training affected the participants' judgment of severity. Additionally, variability was reduced as a function of training. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient's revealed a moderate to strong relationship for all of the perceptual indices suggesting that regardless of training participants have an implicit understanding of normal versus disordered voice samples.

No description available.