Fundamental Frequency and Formants Before and After Prolonged Voice Use in Teachers

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Damasceno Pellicani ◽  
Alice Ramos Fontes ◽  
Francisco Flavio Santos ◽  
Aline Damasceno Pellicani ◽  
Lilian Neto Aguiar-Ricz
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Voice Use

Classroom Noise and Teachers' Voice Production

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 1397-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena M. Rantala ◽  
Suvi Hakala ◽  
Sofia Holmqvist ◽  
Eeva Sala
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Objective Metrics ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Working Day ◽  
Sound Spectrum ◽  
Voice Use ◽  
Lower Noise

Purpose The aim of this study was to research the associations between noise (ambient and activity noise) and objective metrics of teachers' voices in real working environments (i.e., classrooms). Method Thirty-two female and 8 male teachers from 14 elementary schools were randomly selected for the study. Ambient noise was measured during breaks in unoccupied classrooms and, likewise, the noise caused by pupils' activity during lessons. Voice samples were recorded before and after a working day. Voice variables measured were sound pressure level (voice SPL), fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and the tilt of the sound spectrum slope (alpha ratio). Results The ambient noise correlated most often with the fundamental frequency of men and voice SPL, whereas activity noise correlated with the alpha ratio and perturbation values. Teachers working in louder ambient noise spoke more loudly before work than those working in lower noise levels. Voice variables generally changed less during work among teachers working in loud activity noise than among those working in lower noise levels. Conclusions Ambient and activity noises affect teachers' voice use. Under loud ambient noise teachers seem to speak habitually loudly, and under loud activity noise teachers' ability to react to loading deteriorates.

Aerodynamic and Acoustic Voice Measures Before and After an Acute Public Speaking Stressor

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 3311-3325
Author(s):  
Brittany L. Perrine ◽  
Ronald C. Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Subglottal Pressure ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
System Activation ◽  
Speaking Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine if differences in stress system activation lead to changes in speaking fundamental frequency, average oral airflow, and estimated subglottal pressure before and after an acute, psychosocial stressor. Method Eighteen vocally healthy adult females experienced the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The TSST includes public speaking and performing mental arithmetic in front of an audience. At seven time points, three before the stressor and four after the stressor, the participants produced /pa/ repetitions, read the Rainbow Passage, and provided a saliva sample. Measures included (a) salivary cortisol level, (b) oral airflow, (c) estimated subglottal pressure, and (d) speaking fundamental frequency from the second sentence of the Rainbow Passage. Results Ten of the 18 participants experienced a hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to stress as indicated by a 2.5-nmol/L increase in salivary cortisol from before the TSST to after the TSST. Those who experienced a response to stress had a significantly higher speaking fundamental frequency before and immediately after the stressor than later after the stressor. No other variable varied significantly due to the stressor. Conclusions This study suggests that the idiosyncratic and inconsistent voice changes reported in the literature may be explained by differences in stress system activation. In addition, laryngeal aerodynamic measures appear resilient to changes due to acute stress. Further work is needed to examine the influence of other stress systems and if these findings hold for dysphonic individuals.

Cirugía de feminización de voz con técnica glotoplastia de Wendler en Barranquilla, Colombia. Voice feminization surgery with Wendler glottoplasty technique in Barranquilla, Colombia.

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio J. Ballestas ◽  
Samir A. Ballestas ◽  
Rocio Cuello
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Vocal Cords ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Upper Face ◽  
Expert Surgeon ◽  
Frequency Maximum ◽  
Male To Female

Introducción: La glotoplastia de Wendler es la técnica que en la actualidad ofrece mejores resultados entre los diferentes tipos de cirugías para la feminización de la voz. Objetivo: Describir nuestra experiencia con la Glotoplastia de Wendler durante el proceso de feminización de la voz de mujeres transgénero. Diseño: Pseudoexperimental (antes-después) Materiales y Métodos: 36 pacientes transexuales en proceso de transformación de hombre a mujer se sometieron a cirugía y rehabilitación con terapias de voz con el equipo de VOICEFEM - Voice Feminization Colombia. La técnica utilizada consiste en la creación de una sinequia de las cuerdas vocales (CCVV) previa desepitelización de la cara interna del tercio anterior de las mismas, 2 puntos de sutura con Vicryl 4/0 y vaporización con electrocauterio en la región lateral de la cara superior de las CCVV y utilización de goma biológica en la sinequia creada. La medición de la frecuencia fundamental, el tiempo máximo de fonación, y la realización del cuestionario TSEQ, se llevaron a cabo antes y después de la cirugía. Resultados: Se obtuvo un aumento de la Frecuencia fundamental promedio de 112Hz(P<0.05) a los 6 meses posteriores al procedimiento quirúrgico y una disminución de cerca de 30 puntos en los resultados del cuestionario TSEQ. Conclusión: La glotoplastia de Wendler, llevada a cabo por cirujanos con experiencia en este campo, ofrece resultados favorables con aumentos significativos de la frecuencia fundamental a mediano plazo y debe estar necesariamente asociada al manejo postquirúrgico con terapias de voz, para obtener el desenlace óptimo esperado.Introduction: Wendler’s Glottoplasty is the technique that offers the best resultsamong the different types of voice feminization surgeries. Male to Female Transgender patients have in this technique the last step for their successful transformation. Objective: To describe our experience in carrying out Wendler’s glottoplasty during the process of feminization of the voice of transgender women. Design: Pseudoexperimental (before-after) study. Materials and methods: In 36 Male to Female Transgender patients, Wendler’s glottoplasty was conducted by VOICEFEM - Voice Feminization Colombia’s team, with further speech therapy rehabilitation. This technique consists of the creation of a synechia of the vocal cords which is carried out after the de-epithelization of the vocal cords on the inner face of its anterior third, 2 stitches with Vicryl 4/0 and vaporization with electrocautery in the lateral region of vocal cords upper face, and the use of biological glue in the created synechia. The measurement of the Fundamental Frequency, Maximum Phonation time, and the completion of the TSEQ questionnaire were carried out before and after the surgery. Results: There was an increase of 112 Hz in the average of Fundamental Frequency(P<0.05) 6 months after the surgery, and a decrease of approximately 30 points in the TSEQ questionnaire results. Conclusion: Wendler’s Glottoplasty conducted by an expert surgeon, provides positive results with a significant increase for fundamental frequency in the medium term, and it is imperative to do also voice therapy rehabilitation posterior to the procedure in order to obtain the expected optimal outcome.

scholarly journals The pitch of babies’ cries predicts their voice pitch at age 5

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 20180065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Levrero ◽  
Nicolas Mathevon ◽  
Katarzyna Pisanski ◽  
Erik Gustafsson ◽  
David Reby
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Ring Finger ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Voice Pitch ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Longitudinal Study Design ◽  
The Right

Voice pitch (fundamental frequency, F 0 ) is a key dimension of our voice that varies between sexes after puberty, and also among individuals of the same sex both before and after puberty. While a recent longitudinal study indicates that inter-individual differences in voice pitch remain stable in men during adulthood and may even be determined before puberty (Fouquet et al. 2016 R. Soc. open sci. 3 , 160395. ( doi:10.1098/rsos.160395 )), whether these differences emerge in infancy remains unknown. Here, using a longitudinal study design, we investigate the hypothesis that inter-individual differences in F 0 are already present in the cries of pre-verbal babies. While based on a small sample ( n = 15), our results indicate that the F 0 of babies' cries at 4 months of age may predict the F 0 of their speech utterances at 5 years of age, explaining 41% of the inter-individual variance in voice pitch at that age in our sample. We also found that the right-hand ratio of the length of their index to ring finger (2D : 4D digit ratio), which has been proposed to constitute an index of prenatal testosterone exposure, was positively correlated with F 0 at both 4 months and 5 years of age. These findings suggest that a substantial proportion of between-individual differences in voice pitch, which convey important biosocial information about speakers, may partly originate in utero and thus already be present soon after birth.

scholarly journals Effects of Vocal Training on Students’ Voices in a Professional Drama School

OTO Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473974X1986638
Author(s):  
Jacob I. Tower ◽  
Lynn Acton ◽  
Jessica Wolf ◽  
Walton Wilson ◽  
Nwanmegha Young
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Voice Handicap Index ◽  
First Year ◽  
Medical Facility ◽  
Acoustic Measures ◽  
Vocal Training ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vocal training on acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of student actors’ voices. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary medical facility speech and swallow center. Subjects and Methods Acoustic, aerodynamic, and Voice Handicap Index–10 measures were collected from 14 first-year graduate-level drama students before and after a standard vocal training program and analyzed for changes over time. Results Among the aerodynamic measures that were collected, mean expiratory airflow was significantly reduced after vocal training. Among the acoustic measures that were collected, mean fundamental frequency was significantly increased after vocal training. On average, Voice Handicap Index–10 scores were unchanged after vocal training. Conclusion The cohort of drama students undergoing vocal training demonstrated improvements in voice aerodynamics, which indicate enhanced glottal efficiency after training. The present study also found an increased average fundamental frequency among the actors during sustained voicing and no changes in jitter and shimmer despite frequent performance.

A Voice Accumulator—Validation and Application

1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Christine Ohlsson ◽  
Olle Brink ◽  
Anders Lofqvist
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Vocal Behavior ◽  
Front Part ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Voice Signal ◽  
Frequency Level ◽  
Speech Pathologists ◽  
Voice Fundamental Frequency ◽  
The Voice ◽  
Voice Use

Studies of vocal behavior under natural conditions require suitable techniques for obtaining records of voice use. We describe the operation of a newly designed voice accumulator that allows registration of fundamental frequency and phonation time during a 12-hour period. The device is based on microprocessors and allows accumulation of the voice fundamental frequency within 60–600 Hz. The voice signal is picked up by a contact microphone attached to the front part of the neck. Analysis of fundamental frequency distribution and phonation time is made on a personal computer. Validation of the device shows it to provide accurate measurements of fundamental frequency, although it tends to underestimate phonation time. In a field test, the accumulator was used to analyze vocal behavior during two work-days in a group of nurses and a group of speech pathologists. Overall, the speech pathologists had a lower fundamental frequency level and higher values of phonation time than the nurses. These field results confirm the validation of the voice accumulator.

Exploring the Clinical Utility of Relative Fundamental Frequency as an Objective Measure of Vocal Hyperfunction

2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 1002-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Roy ◽  
Rebecca A. Fetrow ◽  
Ray M. Merrill ◽  
Christopher Dromey
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Vowel Context ◽  
Muscle Tension Dysphonia ◽  
Vocal Hyperfunction ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Relative Fundamental Frequency

Purpose Vocal hyperfunction, related to abnormal laryngeal muscle activity, is considered the proximal cause of primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD). Relative fundamental frequency (RFF) has been proposed as an objective acoustic marker of vocal hyperfunction. This study examined (a) the ability of RFF to track changes in vocal hyperfunction after treatment for pMTD and (b) the influence of dysphonia severity, among other factors, on the feasibility of RFF computation. Method RFF calculations and dysphonia severity ratings were derived from pre- and posttreatment recordings from 111 women with pMTD and 20 healthy controls. Three vowel–voiceless consonant–vowel stimuli were analyzed. Results RFF onset slope consistently varied as a function of group (pMTD vs. controls) and time (pretherapy vs. posttherapy). Significant correlations between RFF onset cycle 1 and dysphonia severity were observed. However, in many samples, RFF could not be computed, and adjusted odds ratios revealed that these unanalyzable data were linked to dysphonia severity, phonetic (vowel–voiceless consonant–vowel) context, and group (pMTD vs. control). Conclusions RFF onset appears to be sensitive to the presence and degree of suspected vocal hyperfunction before and after therapy. The large number of unanalyzable samples (related especially to dysphonia severity in the pMTD group) represents an important limitation.

Use of Visual Feedback to Treat Negative Intraoral Air Pressures of Preschoolers With Cochlear Implants

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen B. Higgins ◽  
Elizabeth A. McCleary ◽  
Laura Schulte
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Visual Feedback ◽  
The Other ◽  
Deaf Children ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Before And After

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if negative intraoral air pressures (−P o ) produced by young deaf children can be treated effectively with visual feedback. We used two forms of visual feedback. One was a display of the P o signal on an oscilloscope, and the other was movement of cellophane streamers placed in front of the children’s mouths. Participants were two 5-year-old boys who had been using cochlear implants (CIs) for less than 6 months. Both children were congenitally deafened and had very limited speech production and perception skills. In addition to frequent usage of −P o , both children exhibited deviant phonatory behaviors, so phonatory goals were incorporated into treatment. The magnitude and direction of P o was monitored, as well as fundamental frequency and electroglottograph cycle width. Data were collected at baseline, before and after treatment sessions, and 7 weeks after termination of treatment. One child responded well to treatment of −P o with both forms of visual feedback, and progress was maintained at follow-up. For the other child, +P o occurred more frequently as the study progressed, and he rarely produced −P o by the end of the investigation. However, because changes were evident in baseline as well as during treatment, it is difficult to attribute his more frequent use of +P o specifically to treatment. The phonation of the two children changed in ways that were consistent with their phonatory goals, although the degree of change was not always significant. Change was more evident for phonatory behaviors that could be shaped with visual feedback. Although both children exhibited some undesirable speech/voice behaviors in response to visual feedback, there was no evidence of long-lasting mislearning. Although our data are limited, it appears that treatment of −P o can be efficacious for some young children with CIs, even those with very poor speech perception and speech production skills. Further, treatment of −P o can be incorporated effectively with other speech production goals.

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