The goal of this research study was to obtain empirical evidence for the role of elastic fibers in the physiology of voice production, using perceptual measures of voice quality. To achieve this goal, the researcher studied individuals with Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic condition which has the hallmark characteristic of heterozygous deletions to the elastin (ELN) gene on chromosome 7. Due to alterations in normal functioning of the ELN gene, which programs elastogenesis in the connective tissues of the body, it is believed that this population can help determine how altered vocal fold histological structure, characterized by reduced and/or disorganized elastic fibers, influences vocal fold movement and the resulting sound production (voice quality). The specific aim of this project was to characterize the perceptual clinical presentation of voice quality in populations with WS via auditory-perceptual measures. Auditory-perceptual voice quality ratings were studied in 16 individuals with WS and 16 normal matched controls. Results revealed no significant differences between individuals with WS and normal controls on ratings of voice quality category, severity, or pitch. These findings diverge from those of previously published research, which will be addressed in the discussion.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TCU/oai:etd.tcu.edu:etd-05012009-122745 |
| Date | 01 May 2009 |
| Creators | Albrecht, Sara Kathryn |
| Contributors | Christopher R Watts |
| Publisher | Texas Christian University |
| Source Sets | Texas Christian University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf, application/msword, application/octet-stream |
| Source | http://etd.tcu.edu/etdfiles/available/etd-05012009-122745/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to TCU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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