Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-01-11T15:45:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo Henrique Annize Liron.pdf: 616500 bytes, checksum: db885ceb3386161e1f11c52b3b1a5dfe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-11T15:45:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo Henrique Annize Liron.pdf: 616500 bytes, checksum: db885ceb3386161e1f11c52b3b1a5dfe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-14 / This work investigates some themes of political philosophy developed by the German thinker Peter Sloterdijk, namely the ones related to the establishment of collective belonging ties, and social mechanisms of speech and hearing in the public sphere, as instances creating inhabitable worlds for humans. We will review several of his texts, from Critique of Reason Cynical to "The revolution of the giving hand", heuristically collecting formulations and discussions that allow us to propose a reading of his political thought as a battle for the possibilities of being in the world. In this scenario we will try to explain certain aspects of his thought on the existence in terms of spherology, that means, from the political-psychological perspective that derives from the relations between the principles of anthropotechnics and thymotics. At the same time, considering that Sloterdijk’s thought on the coming into being results from a process of constituting oneself in reference to a set of social and historically determined practices, we will apply these tools to explicit some aspects of Sloterdijk’s reading of this government of the many, which we call today by the name of representative democracy, especially through the processes of creation of both belonging ties and possibilities of existence / O presente trabalho investiga determinados temas de filosofia política desenvolvidos pelo pensador alemão Peter Sloterdijk, nomeadamente aqueles relacionados à formação de laços de pertencimento coletivo e de mecanismos sociais de fala e audição na esfera pública, considerados instâncias criadoras de mundos habitáveis por humanos. Para tanto, percorreremos seus textos, desde Crítica da Razão Cínica até “A Mão que Doa e O Lado que Toma”, recolhendo de maneira heurística debates e formulações que nos permitam propor uma leitura de seu pensamento político como uma batalha pelas possibilidades de ser no mundo. Diante deste cenário tentaremos explicitar aspectos de seu pensamento da existência em termos de esferologia, isto é, a partir da perspectiva político-psicológica que se constitui a partir das relações entre a antropotécnica e o princípio da timótica. Ao mesmo tempo, considerando que no pensamento de Sloterdijk o vir-ao-mundo decorre de um processo de constituição de si, em referência a um conjunto de condutas social e historicamente determinadas, buscaremos empreender uma aplicação deste ferramental para explicitar determinados ângulos da leitura de Sloterdijk acerca da pratica de governo dos muitos, que hoje se constitui, sob o nome de democracia representativa, notadamente por intermédio de processos de criação de laços de pertencimento e possibilidades de existência

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-01-12T17:50:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Fernanda de Queiroz Prado Bittencourt.pdf: 2082489 bytes, checksum: 74ab6aba3e8b845ee70d61594862cd3c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-12T17:50:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Fernanda de Queiroz Prado Bittencourt.pdf: 2082489 bytes, checksum: 74ab6aba3e8b845ee70d61594862cd3c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Maximum phonation time (MPT) is frequently used by speech therapists in clinics and in surveys in the field of Voice. The description of how it is used, however, varies a lot. AIM: Compare and analyze the different ways MPT is measured in the national and international literature and check if these variations interfere in the final results. METHODS: the thesis comprehends three studies. The first study is a review on how MPT is measured and standardized in the international literature. The second study checks Brazilian literature for the way MPT is measured applying: the sound used; the patient’s position; the assessor’s given order; the type of instruments used and the final average calculation. The third study, based on the second study, establishes four sequences of measurement. These sequences were tested in 60 adults (30 men and 30 women) aged between 18 and 45. RESULTS: in the first study, it was observed that the description of the MPT measurement method doesn’t show clearly all the steps of the process. Besides, the standardization is related to the population of each country. In the national surveys of the second study, what stands out is: the use of vowels (89%); placing the patient standing up (41.8%) and the choice of a longer time for three emissions for the final calculation (30,9%). While testing the sequences in the third study, it was observed a relevant difference in the MPT numbers for men and women and there was no relevant difference in the four sequences. CONCLUSION: in the International literature, it was observed that the process of measurement carried out was not fully described; moreover, the standardization was according to each reality and many times, outdated. In the national literature, it was observed that what was more frequent in the surveys was the use of vowels and the choice of a longer time for three emissions in the MPT final calculation. The data resulting from the different ways of measuring show similarity in relation to how you place the patient and the way the final measurement is calculated / O tempo máximo de fonação (TMF) é utilizado frequentemente por fonoaudiólogos na clínica e nas pesquisas no campo da voz. Apesar de sua aplicação ser frequente a descrição da sua forma de mensuração é muito variada. OBJETIVO: comparar e analisar as formas de aferição do TMF na literatura internacional e nacional e verificar se essas variações interferem no valor final da medida. MÉTODOS: a tese é composta por três estudos. O primeiro estudo é uma revisão da literatura internacional sobre a aferição e padronização do TMF. O estudo 2 investiga nas pesquisas brasileiras as formas de mensuração do TMF segundo: o som utilizado, a posição do sujeito, a ordem dada pelo avaliador, o tipo de instrumento utilizado e o cálculo da média final. O terceiro com baseado nos resultados dos dois estudos anteriores estabelecem quatro sequencias de aferição. Essas foram testadas em 60 adultos (30 mulheres e 30 homens), com idade entre 18 e 45 anos. RESULTADOS: No estudo 1 observou-se que a descrição do método de mensuração do TMF não mostra com clareza todas as etapas. Além disso, a padronização está relacionada com a população de cada país. Nas pesquisas nacionais do estudo 2 o que mais apareceu foi: utilização das vogais (89%), posicionar o sujeito em pé (41.8%) e a escolha do tempo maior de três produções para o calculo final (30,9%). Na testagem das sequencias no estudo 3 foi observado diferença significante entre os valores de TMF de homens e mulheres e não houve diferença significante na comparação entre as quatro sequencias. CONCLUSÃO: em relação à literatura internacional observou-se que a forma de medir foi descrita sem as informações de todo o processo e a padronização é de cada realidade e muitas vezes antiga. Na literatura nacional foi verificado que o mais frequente nas pesquisas foi à utilização das vogais e da escolha do tempo maior de três emissões para calculo final do tempo máximo de fonação. Os dados obtidos nas diferentes formas de mensuração demonstraram semelhança em relação a como posicionar o sujeito e na forma final do cálculo da medida

Thesis. 1975. Ph.D. cn--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 293-303. / Ph.D.cn

Master of Science / Department of Computer Science / Mitchell L. Neilsen / Smart glasses, like smart phones, have separate operating systems, and can execute many different kinds of software and games. Smart glasses can be used to add a schedule, map navigation, interact with friends, take photos and videos, and make video calls with friends through voice control. They can support wireless network access through a mobile communication network. Bluetooth is a radio technology that supports short-range communication between of the devices. It can exchange information between devices including mobile phones, wireless headsets, laptops, etc. Bluetooth technology can effectively simplify the communication between mobile devices. This thesis focuses on smart glasses applications for high-throughput phenotyping which requires a data monitor, data synchronization, Bluetooth service, and voice control between devices. On the Android side, the application, which is extended, is called Field Book. The new software called Field Book AR, includes a data monitor module and a Bluetooth server module to achieve data exchange with smart glasses. On the smart glasses side, the application is called DataReceiver. It receives voice commands from users and controls the actions of Field Book AR. Also, when Field Book detects data changing, it accepts new data and shows changes to the users.

A child’s right to have their opinion in decisions which affect them given due regard forms the basis of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989) which was ratified by the UK government in 1991. The term ‘pupil voice’ has been used by schools as a way of encapsulating this and a survey in 2007 suggested that 92% of primary schools in England and Wales had a school council in place (Whitty & Wisby, 2007a). The aim of the current study was to elicit the views of key stage 2 school councillors and staff members about the role of school councils and pupil participation in decision making. In Phase One staff from three primary schools in the south west of England were interviewed about school councils and pupil participation in school. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and three themes emerged. In Phase Two 16 key stage 2 pupils, who were members of their own school’s school council, took part. Mixed gender paired interviews were conducted to elicit their views about their role and pupil participation in decision making in their school. Interviews were followed by five weekly group sessions involving participatory activities to support and develop their understanding of their role as school councillors. Pupils from each school council had input into the topics explored in this part of the research. Findings from Phase One suggest that staff regard school councils as being positive for the children involved but they differ in opinion in terms of the impact they have on the wider school population. Findings from Phase Two suggest school council members value being responded to by adults when they have been asked to express their views about a specific decision. School council members also perceive trust as being one of the main factors involved in their election by peers. Findings are discussed in relation to recent research about participation in decision making, the effectiveness of school councils and the importance of a participatory ethos within schools. Overall findings lead to the proposal of a model for use in schools to support the participation of pupils in decision making. The model is based on the existing model conceptualising Article 12 of the UNCRC by Lundy (2007) but incorporates a shared participatory ethos and adult response as required factors. Limitations of the current study as well as suggestions for future research and implications for EP practice are discussed.

A voz é uma das formas mais diretas de expressão da nossa personalidade, sentimentos, desejos e estado de espírito. Pode-se observar em relação à criança, que o uso da voz ocorre de maneira mais intensa, justificável até pelo fato, que a todo instante as descobertas acontecem e a necessidade de exteriorizar todo esse conhecimento sucede-se através do uso voraz da voz. A laringe infantil é de configuração cônica, com cartilagens delicadas e ligamentos frouxos; os tecidos epiteliais são densos, abundantes e mais vascularizados, com tendência a edema e obstrução. Em função de suas características, a laringe infantil é um excelente instrumento de respiração, deglutição e proteção de vias aéreas superiores, porém, não para a fonação devido à sua dimensão vertical encurtada, reduzida capacidade de ressonância e possibilidade de movimentação restrita. A análise acústica da voz humana tem sido de grande importância principalmente por ser uma medida objetiva, contribuindo objetivamente na compreensão do mecanismo fisiológico do aparato vocal. Os objetivos deste estudo são: estabelecer um perfil acústico da voz mais abrangente que os apresentados na literatura atual; verificar a correlação entre os parâmetros acústicos da voz e estudar a correlação dos parâmetros acústicos da voz com a utilização da voz pelas crianças nas atividades diárias. Foram convidadas 182 crianças de escolas públicas e particulares da cidade de São Carlos – SP. Os participantes foram de ambos os gêneros com uma faixa etária de 7 a 10 anos de idade. O protocolo de gravação das vozes foi realizado a partir da gravação da vogal sustentada /a/ em tom e intensidade adequada, com duração de até 5 segundos em ambiente silencioso e diretamente no programa Análise de Voz 5.0. Os parâmetros acústicos analisados foram: freqüência fundamental (F0), jitter; shimmer; nivelamento espectral de resíduos (SFR), nivelamento de filtro (SFF); amplitude de pitch (PA); coeficiente de excesso (EX). Os achados mostraram: a média dos valores de F0 foi 237,15 Hz; o valor médio de jitter foi de 1,21%; o valor médio de shimmer foi de 7,01%; a média dos valores de SFR foi –9,53 dB; o SFF foi 11,09 dB; a média de PA encontrada nessa amostra foi 0,55 e a média do EX foi 7,46 dB. Foram sugeridos limiares mais pertinentes a voz infantil no programa utilizado (Análise de Voz 5.0) e são eles os valores: jitter = 1%; shimmer = 8%; SFR = - 6dB; SFF = -10dB; PA = 0,3; EX = 2,0dB. Dos limiares propostos temos que shimmer, PA e EX são idênticos aos limiares para adultos. Já o jitter e os parâmetros relacionados à suavidade espectral, SFR e SFF, variaram demonstrando as diferenças fisiológicas das crianças em relação aos adultos. Os resultados deste estudo trazem importantes implicações para conhecer a voz infantil de maneira mais profunda, ajudar na elaboração de programas de prevenção e tratamento da voz e disfonias infantis, além de levantar padrões de normalidade dessa população. / The voice is one of the most direct expressions of our personality and feelings. In the childhood the use of voice is intense mainly by their need to exteriorize the knowledge acquired in a so rapidly manner. The child larynx has a conic shape with tiny cartilages and loose ligaments. The epithelial tissues are dense, abundants and more vascularized, which can cause edemas and obstruction. Considering its characteristics, a child larynx is an excellent tool for breathing, swallowing and for protection of superior aerial via, however its not well adapted for phonation due to its short vertical dimension, small resonance, capability and restricted vertical movement. The acoustic analysis of the human voice has been quite useful to quantify acoustic parameters of voice as well as in the studies of physiological mechanism of voice apparatus. The aim of this work is to establish a larger acoustic profile of children’s voice, during natural daily activities, compared to the actual literature. One hundred and eighty two voice signal samples of sustained vowel /a/ from brazilian portuguese, in normal conversation level, were acquired from children at public and particular schools of São Carlos city, both male and female, ranging in age from 07 to 10 years old. Voice signals were recorded at 22,05 KHz sampling rate during 5 seconds and digitalized in a personal computer through Análise de Voz 5.0 software. The acoustic parameters evaluated were: fundamental frequency (F0), jitter; shimmer; spectral flatness of the residue (SFR); spectral flatness of the filter (SFF); pitch amplitude (PA) and excess coefficient (EX). The results show the following mean values: FO = 237,15 Hz; jitter = 1.21%; shimmer = 7.01%; SFR = -9.53 dB; SFF = -11.09 dB; PA = 0.55 and EX = 7.46 dB. The suggested thresholds values for this age are: jitter = 1%; shimmer = 8%; SFR = -6 dB; SFF = - 6 dB; PA = 0.3 and EX = 2.0 dB. From these proposed values, three of them agree with normal adult thresholds, namely shimmer, PA and EX. The jitter and spectral flatness parameters, SFR and SFF, varied showing the physiological differences between children and adults. The results found here bring some important knowledge about children’s voices and would be useful in voice therapy and could provide programs to prevent voice dysfunction. Another important result is the establishment of acoustic profile of the children voices.

O combate à epidemia do tabagismo é prioridade estabelecida pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. Objetivou-se estabelecer a prevalência do tabagismo e seu efeito na voz dos servidores e alunos do campus de Bauru da Universidade de São Paulo. Através da aplicação de um questionário autoexplicativo foram avaliadas as características sociodemográficas, saúde geral, voz, e comportamento em relação ao tabagismo. Avaliou-se a prevalência do hábito, o grau de dependência à nicotina (Teste de Fagerstrom) e a motivação para interrupção do hábito (Teste de Richmond). Os resultados foram analisados no programa Statistica for Windows versão 5.1. Foram aplicados os testes qui-quadrado e correlação de Spearman entre grupos, com nível de significância de 5%. O índice de resposta obtido foi de 62,8%, ou seja, 628 respondentes. A maioria dos entrevistados era do sexo feminino (74,5%), com idade entre 18 e 29 anos (46,2%) e com grau de instrução até o ensino médio (57,8%). Com relação ao hábito de fumar 10,5% eram fumantes e 10,5% ex-fumantes. O percentual de alunos fumantes (4,1%) foi significativamente menor comparado aos valores observados para funcionários (p<0,001). A prevalência de fumantes foi significativamente maior entre os entrevistados do sexo masculino (p=0,003), com menor nível de instrução (p<0,001) e na faixa etária com mais de 50 anos (p<0,001). Houve correlação estatisticamente significante entre o grau de dependência à nicotina e o nível de instrução (p< 0,001). No entanto, a motivação para interromper o hábito não mostrou correlação com o nível de instrução (p=0,344). Os fumantes apresentaram sintomas e sensações vocais e laringofaríngeas com frequência significativamente maior do que os não fumantes, incluindo: tosse seca (p<0,001) e com catarro (p<0,001), pigarro (p<0,001), secreção na garganta (p=0,006), garganta seca (p=0,010), rouquidão (p=0,001) e voz grossa (p<0,001). O percentual de satisfação com a própria voz foi 93% em ambos os grupos. Com relação aos cuidados com a voz, 54,3% da amostra havia recebido orientações prévias sobre o assunto. Os dados disponibilizados demonstram a necessidade de estratégias locais adequadas para prevenção e cessação do tabagismo no campus de Bauru. / The fight against the smoking epidemic is a priority established by the World Health Organization. This study analyzed the prevalence of smoking and its effect on the voice of professors, employees and students at the Bauru campus of University of São Paulo. A self-explaining questionnaire was applied to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics, general health, voice and behavior in relation to smoking. The study evaluated the prevalence of the habit, degree of smoking dependence (Fagerstrom test) and motivation to interrupt the habit (Richmond test). The results were analyzed on the software Statistica for Windows version 5.1. The chi-square and the Spearmen correlation tests were applied between groups, at a significance level of 5%. The response rate was 62.8%, i.e. 628 participants. Most interviewees were females (74.5%), aged 18 to 29 years (46.2%) and with educational level up to high school (57.8%). Concerning the smoking habit, 10.5% were smokers and 10.5% were ex-smokers. The percentage of smoker students (4.1%) was significantly lower compared to the values observed among employees (p<0.001). The prevalence of smokers was significantly higher among male interviewees (p=0.003), with lower educational level (p<0.001) and in the age range older than 50 years (p<0.001). There was statistically significant correlation between smoking dependence and the educational level (p<0.001). However, the motivation to interrupt the habit did not show correlation with educational level (p=0.344). The smokers exhibited vocal symptoms and throat sensations with significantly higher frequency than non-smokers, including dry cough (p<0.001) with catarrh (p<0.001), hem (p<0.001), throat secretion (p=0.006), dry throat (p=0.010), hoarseness (p=0.001) and harsh voice (p<0.001). The percentage of satisfaction with the own voice was 93% for both groups. Concerning the care with the voice, 54.3% of the sample had received previous information on the subject. These data demonstrate the need of adequate local strategies for prevention and interruption of smoking at the Bauru campus.

The problem of the study was to identify stress arising in psychological counseling by identifying variations in the vocal pitch (fundamental frequency level) of clients' voices. Hypotheses were established to (1) determine the number of categories describing acoustically similar clients' responses within the counseling session and compare these categories with ratings of client stress, (2) determine the relationship between ratings of client stress and different fundamental frequency characteristics, and (3) compare fundamental frequency characteristics of in-session and repeated client verbalizations. Recommendations included (1) considering an improved acoustical analysis method capable of providing immediate feedback which could be used to study both moment-to-moment and longitudinal stress changes, (2) correlating vocal pitch variations with other physiological manifestations indicative of stress, (3) applying acoustical analysis to aid in counselor training, and (4) using acoustical analysis to study different specific types of populations.

A busca pela qualidade de vida originou a necessidade de se compreender melhor os aspectos envolvidos no processo de envelhecimento, visando minimizar suas consequências. Embora existam muitos estudos sobre a voz do idoso, a compreensão sobre quais aspectos interferem na qualidade de vida em voz desta população, ainda não é muito explorada. O objetivo do estudo é averiguar o impacto dos aspectos respiratórios e dos aspectos vocais na qualidade de vida em voz de idosos. Participaram 56 idosos acima de 60 anos de idade, sendo 39 mulheres e 17 homens. Foram realizados os procedimentos de avaliação vocal utilizando a Escala Analógica Visual para a análise perceptivo-auditiva da vogal sustentada /a/ e da conversa espontânea e, o programa computadorizado Mult Dimension Voice Program (MDVP), KayPentax, para a análise acústica, dos parâmetros frequência Fundamental (F0), desvio padrão da frequência fundamental (dp F0), shimmer, cociente de perturbação de amplitude (APQ,) jitter, cociente de perturbação de frequência (PPQ) e proporção ruído-harmônico (NHR). Também foi realizada a anamnese quanto aos sintomas e hábitos vocais, avaliação laríngea por meio de exame de nasolaringoscopia para caracterização da amostra; a avaliação da respiração, incluindo medidas de capacidade vital (CV), volume fonatório (VF), fluxo médio fonatório (FMF) e cociente fônico simples (CFS), por meio do espirômetro Pony Fx; a avaliação do tempo máximo de fonação (TMF) durante a emissão de /a/, /s/, /z/ e contagem de números, além da aplicação do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida em Voz (QVV). Foram utilizados o teste t e Mann-Whitney para a comparação dos parâmetros estudados, entre mulheres e homens idosos, e Spearman para correlação entre os dados. Adotou-se nível de significância de 5% para todos os testes.Os idosos do presente estudo apresentaram maior porcentagem de ocorrência de ato de pigarrear, falar alto e ter problemas digestivos e características laríngeas de arqueamento vocal de prega vocal, fenda glótica fusiforme e constrições supraglóticas, sendo mais evidentes no sexo masculino. Os idosos em geral, consideraram suas vozes como sendo boas, além de apresentarem elevado grau de qualidade de vida em voz, com pontuações próximas a 100% para todos os domínios. Quanto à qualidade vocal, os idosos apresentaram características de rugosidade, soprosidade e instabilidade, com diferença estatisticamente significante para o parâmetro rugosidade, sendo maior para os homens. Esta avaliação obteve uma confiabilidade, em sua maioria, excelente, tanto para o julgamento intra como interjuízes. Foi observada correlação positiva do parâmetro rugosidade com o Protocolo QVV no sexo feminino. Quanto às medidas acústicas, também foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes para os parâmetros F0, shimmer e APQ, sendo estes dois últimos maiores para os homens. Foi verificado que estes três parâmetros quando aumentados, interferem negativamente na qualidade de vida em voz das mulheres idosas. As medidas espirométricas evidenciaram diferença significante entre os sexos, tendo valores elevados para os homens. Não foi verificada correlação destas medidas com o Protocolo QVV. Os TMF, assim como a espirometria, evidenciaram diferenças quanto ao sexo, com maiores valores de /a/ e /s/ para os homens. Foi observada correlação do TMF de /a/ e /s/ e da relação s/z com o Protocolo QVV apenas para o sexo masculino. Desta forma, concluiu-se que os aspectos vocais têm impacto negativo na qualidade de vida em voz das mulheres idosas e os aspectos respiratórios são os que mais interferem na qualidade de vida em voz dos homens. / The search for quality of life led to the need to better understand the is aspects involved in the aging process in order to minimize its consequences. Although there are many studies about the aging voice, understanding aspects of which interfere in quality of life in voice this population, still not much explored. The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of respiratory aspects and vocals aspects in quality of life in healthy elderly voice. Participated 56 elderly above 60 years of age, 39 women and 17 men. Was performed the assessment procedures vocal using the Visual Analogue Scale for perceptive analysis - hearing the vowel / a / and spontaneous conversation and, Mult Dimension Voice Program (MDVP) the computerized program, KayPentax, to acoustic analysis, the parameters average fundamental frequency (F0), standard derivation of fundamental frequency (SD F0), shimmer, amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), jitter, pitch perturbation quotient (PPQ) and harmonic-noise ratio (NHR). Was also performed the interview about symptoms and vocal habits, laryngeal assessment through examination of nasolaryngoscopy for sample characterization, assessment of breathing, including measures of vital capacity (VC), phonation volume (VF), mean flow phonation (FMF ) and phonic simple quotient (CFS) through the spirometer Pony Fx; evaluating the maximum phonation (TMF) for issuing / a /, / s /, / z /, and counting numbers, besides the application of Quality of Life questionnaire in Voice (QLV). Were used the \"t\" test and Mann-Whitney for the compare the parameters studied, among elderly women and men and Spearman used for correlation between the data. Was adopted significance level of 5% for all tests. The elderly of the present study had higher percentage of occurrence of the act of clearing the throat, speak loudly and have problems digestive and laryngeal characteristics of arching vocal fold, glottic fusiform slit and supraglottic constrictions, being more evident in males. The elderly in general considered their voices as being good, besides presenting high level of quality of life in voice, with scores close to 100% for all domains. As the vocal quality presented characteristics of roughness, breathiness and instability, with statistically significant difference for the roughness parameter, being higher for men. This review obtained a trustworthiness, in their majority, excellent, both for the intra judgment as inter judges. Was observed positive correlation the roughness parameter with the Protocol V-RQOL in females. As for acoustic measures have also been observed statistically significant differences to the parameters F0, shimmer and APQ, latter two being larger for men. Was found that these three parameters when increased, negatively affect the quality of life in voice of elderly women. The spirometric measurements showed significant differences between the sexes, having high values for men. No correlation was verified of these measures with the Protocol V-RQOL. The MPT as well as spirometry, showed differences according to the sexes, with higher values of /a/ and /s/ for men. Correlation was observed of MPT /a/ and /s/ and s/z ratio with Protocol V-RQOL only for males. In this way, it was concluded that the vocal aspects have negative impact on quality of life in voice of elderly women and the respiratory aspects are the ones most interfere in the quality of life in men voice.

This thesis sought to develop and assess a novel scale to measure the experience of an anorexic voice in anorexia nervosa. It consists of three standalone papers. Papers one and two have been prepared for submission to two separate journals relevant to the methodology and research area for each, and comply with the journal guidelines. Paper one is a thematic synthesis of qualitative literature exploring "inner speech" for individuals with a diagnosed psychological disorder. Following a standardised procedure for thematic synthesis, six databases were searched and 10 studies were included. In total, three analytical themes were identified within the data: 1) Withdrawing to an inner world, 2) A fragmented and conflicted self and 3) Re-connecting with the outside world. The results found several similarities regarding the nature, function and negative consequences of engaging with critical inner dialogues across clinical samples. IS as both a coping mechanism and a maintaining factor of psychological distress was a key finding. The results indicated therapeutic approaches facilitating acceptance of internal experiences and disengagement from critical internal dialogues may be helpful. Paper two is a two-stage quantitative study that describes the development and assessment of a novel scale, the Experience of an Anorexic VoicE Questionnaire (EAVE-Q). Using data collected in an earlier qualitative study, Stage 1 generated scale items and tested for face and content validity using cognitive interviews with seven individuals with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. In Stage 2, 148 individuals with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa were recruited from mental health services, eating disorder charities, the community and online to complete the EAVE-Q and measures of eating disorder symptoms, mood and quality of life. The dimensionality of the scale was assessed using principle axis factoring and associations between the EAVE-Q domains and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Factor analysis derived an 18 item scale with five domains. Two domains related to negative consequences of the AV, two to positive functions and one to the externalisation of the AV from the self. There were significant associations between individual EAVE-Q domains and eating disorder symptoms, mood and quality of life. The results highlighted the value in further research to refine the EAVE-Q, and to use this in future research to assess if changes in AV experiences are associated with clinical change over time. Paper three is a critical appraisal of this research. It includes reflections on the research process, discussion of the methodological limitations, and consideration of the implications of the findings for existing theory, future research and clinical practice.