scholarly journals Acoustic analysis of voice in post-tonsillectomy patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Kai Lea ◽  
Nik Fariza Husna Nik Hassan ◽  
Irfan Mohamad

Introduction: Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure performed in otolaryngology setting worldwide. It is a procedure to remove the palatine tonsils, which are one of the major structures in the oropharynx which constitute part of the vocal tract. The study aimed to determine acoustic changes in post-tonsillectomy patients.Methodology: Voice sampling was collected using Praat software before and after operation, which was one day before operation and within 2-3 weeks after the operation respectively. Acoustic parameters including fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonic to noise ratio and first formant frequency were analyzed by using paired t-test.Results: A total of 27 participants that underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were involved in this study. The age range of participants was 3-56 years old. The mean age of study was 18.57. There was no significant difference for all the acoustic parameters between pretonsillectomy and post tonsillectomy. However, there were noticeable voice changes through auditory as perceived by participants or caregiver.Conclusion: Although patient and care givers do notice a significant voice changes, but objectively this finding is not reveals during objective voice assessment.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(3) 2018 p.382-387

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.S. Chhetri ◽  
R. Gautam

Background Voice problems caused by pathologies in vocal folds are well known. Some types of laryngeal pathologies have certain acoustic characteristics. Objective evaluation helps characterize the voice and voice problems providing supporting evidences, severity of disorders. It helps assess the response to the treatment and measures the outcomes.Objective The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the voice therapy and quantify the results objectively by voice parameters.Method Study includes 61 patients who presented with different types of laryngeal pathologies. Acoustic analyses and voice assessment was done with Dr. Speech ver 4 (Tiger DRS Inc.). Acoustic parameters including fundamental frequency, jitters, shimmers, Harmonic to noise ratio (HNR), Normalized noise energy (NNE) were analyzed before and after voice therapy.Result Bilateral vocal nodules were the most common pathologies comprising 44.26%. All acoustic parameters showed a significant difference after the therapy (p<0.05) except for NNE. Dysphonia due to vocal fold polyp showed no improvement even after voice therapy (p>0.05).Conclusion Acoustic analysis provides an objective, recordable data regarding the voice parameters and its pathologies. Though, few pathology require alternative therapy rather than voice therapy, overall it has a good effect on glottic closure. As the voice therapy can improve the different indices of voice, it can be viewed as imperative part of treatment and to monitor progression.


Author(s):  
Dr.Kala Samayan ◽  
Elanthendral C ◽  
Dr.Anamika Hui

Speech has its unique importance as the primary means by which language is expressed in all human cultures. It is a fluid phenomenon, characterized by rapid changes in articulation and its acoustic product. Vowels can differ in acoustic analysis in various aspects because the speech code varies with language, dialect, age and sex and specific physiological constraints of the speaker. Keeping in view that rate brings changes in speech and vowels being more acoustically approachable, it is assumed that there would be changes in vowel acoustics with change in rate of speech. The present study is aimed at understanding the influence of rate of speech on formant frequency of vowel acoustics in two different languages - Bengali (Indo-Aryan) and Tamil (Dravidian). The subjects for the study were grouped based on languages - Group I consisted of 10 males with native language as Bengali, Group II consisted of 10 males with native language as Tamil in the age range of 18 to 28 years. The results shows that the formant frequency of three similar vowels of /a/, /i/ and /u/ in both languages and non-similar/different vowel of /ɔ/ in Bengali and /Ʌ/ in Tamil indicates significant difference in varying speaking rate. The differences in vowel acoustics in varying speaking rate in Tamil and Bengali showed higher duration to read the passage in normal than fast rate. KEYWORDS: Formant frequency, vowel acoustics, Tamil and Bengali


2022 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Elsherbeny ◽  
Hemmat Baz ◽  
Omayma Afsah

Abstract Background Using different methodologies, several researchers have reported certain acoustical and physiological differences between fluent utterances of stutterers and normally fluent speakers. The aim of this study was to determine acoustic characteristics of voice and speech in Arabic-speaking stuttering children in comparison to normal children and correlate these characteristics with stuttering severity. A sample of 80 Arabic-speaking Egyptian children (including 40 typically developing children and 40 stuttering children) in the age range 5–8 years were subjected to acoustic analysis of voice and speech using the Praat software. Results The stuttering children showed significantly higher values of jitter and shimmer in prolonged /a/ vowel sample, as compared to the normal group. This may reflect the subtle differences in laryngeal functioning or in the complex interaction among the laryngeal, respiratory, and the vocal tract systems in stuttering children. Both jitter and shimmer of prolonged /a/ vowel demonstrated significant positive moderate correlation with stuttering severity as assessed by SSI3. F0 was significantly higher in females than in males, both in normal and stuttering children. Conclusions The present study revealed significant differences in the acoustic parameters of voice and speech between Arabic-speaking stuttering children and normal children. Some of these acoustic parameters were significantly correlated with stuttering severity. Acoustic analysis can be used as simple, quick, and cheap tool for assessment of stuttering in children and might be a valuable addition to the diagnostic set for assessment of stuttering severity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1018-1032
Author(s):  
Chia-Hsin Wu ◽  
Roger W. Chan

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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 234-238
Author(s):  
Mirjana Petrovic-Lazic ◽  
Snezana Babac ◽  
Zoran Ivankovic ◽  
Rade Kosanovic

Introduction. There are subjective and objective ways to examine the effects of vocal therapy in voice disorders. The most precise and objective check-up is the use of computer voice analysis. Objective. The aim of the research was to perform a detailed analysis of acoustic structure of the vowel A before and after voice treatment in patients with vocal fold nodules in order to obtain objective verification of the vocal rehabilitation success. Methods. We examined 30 female patients, aged 34.6?6.69 years, with vocal fold nodules. Acoustic parameters of voice were compared with the control group consisting of 21 subjects without voice pathology. In all persons the vowel A was recorded and analyzed before and after a month of vocal therapy. The success of the vocal therapy was tracked using computer analysis of vocal structure. Signal, noise and tremor parameters were processed. Results. Of the analyzed vowel A parameters: STD, PER, JITA, JITT, RAP, vFO, ShdB, SHIM, APQ, VTI, SPI, F0, NHR, FTRI, eleven improved (p<0.05 and p<0.01). Three parameters (F0, NHR, FTRI) changed showing improvement, but the obtained differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that vocal therapy gave satisfactory results, but that it should be continually applied until full stabilization of the voice.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Yaser Adnan Abo Jeesh ◽  
Magda El-hadi Ahmad Yousif ◽  
Moauya Al-Balal Al-Haboub

Background: Thalassemia is the most common autosomal abnormality in Syria. Its complications have an important effect on education; time off school; sport; difference from friends/ siblings; social interactions; and stigmatization. Knowledge of factors associated with quality of life in thalassemia patients is necessary for forming appropriate clinical programs, social support, and improving treatment outcomes. Purpose: The study was to assess the effects of Patients' and Care-givers' Knowledge, Attitude, & Practice (KAP) with Quality of Life among Thalassemia Major Patients' in Syria. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive analytical design was conducted at the national thalassemia center in Damascus. WHOQOL-BREF and a questionnaire developed by the researcher were used to measure the participants’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of thalassemia. Results: Total of 238 thalassemia patients participated in the study. A statistical significance was found regarding improvement of skill and knowledge scores among caregivers and thalassemia patients before and after receiving the teaching guide from 12.52±1.77 to 14.07±1.01, t=11.447, p=0.000 and from 34.12±4.50 to 37.43±4.61, t=-8.58, p= .000 respectively. Stigmatization was significantly noticed among families caring for thalassemic patients. There were a significant differences in the mean score regarding nutritional status before and after teaching guide paired t test= 12.11, p= 0.000. A statistical significance was found in females regarding social domain p=0.04. However, mean scores for overall quality of life were better in females rather than males, but these mean scores were statistically insignificant p>0.05. A statistical significant difference in ferritin levels and patient’s age was found. Results also revealed that no statistical significant differences was observed between overall quality of life of the four domains in relation to the two treatment groups (subcutaneous vs oral) and age groups. Conclusion: Thalassemia is a socio-economic problem. The most efficient way to reduce risks of having affected patients is by increasing the knowledge through training of parents regarding the disease. Our findings highlighted that there was lack in patients’ knowledge and skills regarding the disease, but a remarkable improvement in both knowledge and performance was found after patients received the teaching guide, which lead to an increase in overall patient's quality of life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anna Kuligowska ◽  
Barbara Jamróz ◽  
Joanna Chmielewska ◽  
Katarzyna Jędra ◽  
Tomasz Czernicki ◽  
...  

Aim of study: Evaluation of the speech therapy on voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal fold palsy. Material and methods: The study group included 11 patients, 8 women and 3 men, in age between 16 to 72 years, with unilateral vocal fold palsy, diagnosed in ENT Department of Warsaw Medical University between 2017-2018. Each person completed questionnaires: the voice disability self-assessment scale (VHI), the voice-based quality of life (VRQoL) scale, the vocal tract discomfort scale (VTD). All questionnaires were completed twice, before and after the voice therapy. In addition, the acoustic analysis of the voice, the assessment of the maximum phonation time and the breathing tract were performed twice in each patient. Each of the patients had a voice rehabilitation consisting of a series of 10 meetings. Results: Statistical analysis of the results of maximum phonation time, the self-assessment of voice disability, the quality of life depending on the voice, discomfort of the vocal tract voice acoustic analysis showed statistically significant differences in the results before and after rehabilitation (p <0.005). In addition, the improvement of the respiratory tract was observed in the majority of patients. Conclusions: Speech therapy significantly affects the voice quality of patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve palsy.


2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Rybak ◽  
Manfred Gahr

The respective influence of testosterone and estradiol on the structure of the Common Canary Serinus canaria song was studied by experimentally controlling blood levels of steroid hormones in males and analyzing the consequent effects on acoustic parameters. A detailed acoustic analysis of the songs produced before and after hormonal manipulation revealed that testosterone and estradiol seem to control distinct song parameters independently. The presence of receptors for testosterone and estradiol in the brain neural pathway controlling song production strongly suggests that the observed effects are mediated by a steroid action at the neuronal level.


2011 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Han ◽  
W Xu ◽  
R Hu ◽  
L Zhang

AbstractObjective:To investigate voice function following Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Patients and methods:Acoustic and articulatory function was examined by acoustic analysis and by formant frequency and bandwidth analysis, before and after Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, in 56 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome.Results:These patients' normalised noise energy was higher than normal, and improved post-operatively. Their pre-operative F1, F2, and F3 formant frequencies and B1 and B2 formant bandwidths were significantly lower than those of normal controls; however, one month after surgery their F1 and F2 frequencies were markedly higher.Conclusion:The acoustic and articulatory characteristics of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome patients differed from those of normal subjects. After Han's uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, obstructive factors in the oropharynx were relieved, allowing oropharyngeal cavity expansion and a gradual increase in formant frequency to within the normal range. Patients' vocal quality improved and their resonator and articulator functions were protected and enhanced.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Harlyanti Muthma'innah Mashar

The age of 10-18 years is the age range of adolescents who are included in the period of being vulnerable to nutrition. Habits at this age are often skipping breakfast, not moving, and snacking a lot. This causes low consumption of vegetables and fruits. This study aims to analyze the effect of providing nutrition counseling using video media on the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents about vegetable and fruit consumption at SMAN 1 Palangka Raya. The design of this study was a quasi-experiment with one group pretest and posttest design with 38 subjects. The results were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and McNemar test. The results showed that the characteristics of the subjects were in the age group of 15-17 years with the highest number aged 16 years (68.4%). Most of the subjects were female (55.3%). The results of the statistical test obtained p = 0.000 (p <0.05) stating that there was a significant difference between knowledge before and after counseling. The results of statistical tests using McNemar's test for attitudes obtained a p-value of 0.000 (p <0.05) which indicated that there was a significant difference between attitudes before and after counseling. Based on these results, counseling with video media influences the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents regarding the consumption of vegetables and fruits at SMAN 1 Palangka Raya.


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