Vocal Tract Resonance Analysis of Aging Voice Using Long-Term Average Spectra

Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to identify a set of communication-based predictors (including both acoustic and gestural variables) of masculinity–femininity ratings and (b) to explore differences in ratings between audio and audiovisual presentation modes for transgender and cisgender communicators. Method The voices and gestures of a group of cisgender men and women ( n = 10 of each) and transgender women ( n = 20) communicators were recorded while they recounted the story of a cartoon using acoustic and motion capture recording systems. A total of 17 acoustic and gestural variables were measured from these recordings. A group of observers ( n = 20) rated each communicator's masculinity–femininity based on 30- to 45-s samples of the cartoon description presented in three modes: audio, visual, and audio visual. Visual and audiovisual stimuli contained point light displays standardized for size. Ratings were made using a direct magnitude estimation scale without modulus. Communication-based predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings were identified using multiple regression, and analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of presentation mode on perceptual ratings. Results Fundamental frequency, average vowel formant, and sound pressure level were identified as significant predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings for these communicators. Communicators were rated significantly more feminine in the audio than the audiovisual mode and unreliably in the visual-only mode. Conclusions Both study purposes were met. Results support continued emphasis on fundamental frequency and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication modification training with transgender individuals and provide evidence for the potential benefit of modifying sound pressure level, especially when a masculine presentation is desired.

Download Full-text

Effects of a 6-Week Straw Phonation in Water Exercise Program on the Aging Voice

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 1018-1032

Author(s):

Chia-Hsin Wu ◽

Roger W. Chan

Keyword(s):

Acoustic Analysis ◽

Vocal Tract ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Control Group ◽

Perceptual Evaluation ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Aging Voice ◽

Before And After

Purpose Semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises with tubes or straws have been widely used for a variety of voice disorders. Yet, the effects of longer periods of SOVT exercises (lasting for weeks) on the aging voice are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of a 6-week straw phonation in water (SPW) exercise program. Method Thirty-seven elderly subjects with self-perceived voice problems were assigned into two groups: (a) SPW exercises with six weekly sessions and home practice (experimental group) and (b) vocal hygiene education (control group). Before and after intervention (2 weeks after the completion of the exercise program), acoustic analysis, auditory–perceptual evaluation, and self-assessment of vocal impairment were conducted. Results Analysis of covariance revealed significant differences between the two groups in smoothed cepstral peak prominence measures, harmonics-to-noise ratio, the auditory–perceptual parameter of breathiness, and Voice Handicap Index-10 scores postintervention. No significant differences between the two groups were found for other measures. Conclusions Our results supported the positive effects of SOVT exercises for the aging voice, with a 6-week SPW exercise program being a clinical option. Future studies should involve long-term follow-up and additional outcome measures to better understand the efficacy of SOVT exercises, particularly SPW exercises, for the aging voice.

Download Full-text

Impact of Vocal Tract Resonance on the Perception of Voice Quality Changes Caused by Varying Vocal Fold Stiffness

Acta Acustica united with Acustica ◽

10.3813/aaa.918937 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 209-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rosario Signorello ◽

Zhaoyan Zhang ◽

Bruce Gerratt ◽

Jody Kreiman

Keyword(s):

Vocal Fold ◽

Vocal Tract ◽

Voice Quality ◽

Quality Changes ◽

Vocal Tract Resonance

Download Full-text

Effects of Long-Term Tracheostomy on Spectral Characteristics of Vowel Production

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.3405.1057 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 1057-1065 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Ruth Saletsky Kamen ◽

Ben C. Watson

Keyword(s):

Vocal Tract ◽

Spectral Characteristics ◽

Group Differences ◽

Vowel Production ◽

Formant Frequency ◽

Motor Patterns ◽

Spectral Parameters ◽

Oral Motor ◽

Vowel Space

This study investigated the effects of long-term tracheostomy on the development of speech. Eight children who underwent tracheotomy during the prelingual period were compared to matched controls on selected spectral parameters of the speech acoustic signal and standard measures of oral-motor, phonologic, and articulatory proficiency. Analysis of formant frequency values revealed significant between-group differences. Children with histories of long-term tracheostomy showed reduced acoustic vowel space, as defined by group formant frequency values. This suggests that these children were limited in their ability to produce extreme vocal tract configurations for vowels /a,i,u/ postdecannulation. Oral motor patterns were less mature, and sound substitutions were not only more variable for this group, but also reflected a persistent overlay of maladaptive compensations developed during cannulation.

Download Full-text

Method And Apparatus For Vocal Tract Resonance Tracking Using Nonlinear Predictor And Target-Guided Temporal Restraint

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America ◽

10.1121/1.3600957 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 129 (6) ◽

pp. 4097

Author(s):

Li Deng

Keyword(s):

Vocal Tract ◽

Vocal Tract Resonance

Download Full-text

Low-level articulatory synthesis: A working text-to-speech solution and a linguistic tool

The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique ◽

10.1017/cnj.2017.15 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 371-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David R. Hill ◽

Craig R. Taube-Schock ◽

Leonard Manzara

Keyword(s):

Vocal Tract ◽

Current System ◽

Text To Speech ◽

Resonance Model ◽

System Description ◽

Low Level ◽

Articulatory Synthesis ◽

Linguistic Research ◽

Region Model

AbstractA complete text-to-speech system has been created by the authors, based on a tube resonance model of the vocal tract and a development of Carré’s “Distinctive Region Model”, which is in turn based on the formant-sensitivity findings of Fant and Pauli (1974), to control the tube. In order to achieve this goal, significant long-term linguistic research has been involved, including rhythm and intonation studies, as well as the development of low-level articulatory data and rules to drive the model, together with the necessary tools, parsers, dictionaries and so on. The tools and the current system are available under a General Public License, and are described here, with further references in the paper, including samples of the speech produced, and figures illustrating the system description.

Download Full-text