Impact of hydration on vocal loading using phonetogram measures

Journal of Voice, 2015

The aim of this study was to design a clinical vocal loading task (VLT) and to track vocal loading and recovery in voice-healthy subjects. Study Design. Pilot study. Methods. Voice-healthy subjects (six female, five male) took part in a controlled VLT in the voice clinic. The VLT was designed to induce vocal fatigue. The subjects read aloud while making themselves heard through ambient speechbabble aired at 85 dB sound pressure level (SPL). Reading was terminated by the subjects when or if they felt any discomfort from the throat. The subjects wore a voice accumulator and filled out a voice activity questionnaire 1 day preceding and for 2 days following the VLT. Expert panels assessed vocal quality and laryngeal physiology from recordings. Results. The subjects endured the VLT for 3-30 minutes. All subjects perceived vocal loading in the VLT. All subjects raised the fundamental frequency and SPL of their speech during the VLT. No match was shown between assessment of voice quality and laryngeal physiology. The subjects showed phonation quotients of 64-82% in the task. Measurements of phonation threshold pressure (PTP) were unstable and were not used. Self-perceived vocal loading receded after 24 hours. Conclusions. An authentic vocal load was simulated through the chosen method. Onset and recovery from selfperceived vocal loading was traceable through the voice activity questionnaire. The range of endurance in the VLT was an unexpected finding, indicating the complexity of vocal loading.

Journal of Voice, 2020

The aim of this study was to describe the effect of superficial hydration, with or without systemic hydration, on voice quality in future female professional singers by assessing acoustic and perceptual parameters of voice production as well as symptoms of vocal fatigue. Study Design. This is an experimental design study. Methods. A study was performed on a sample of 24 female voice majors to ascertain the effect of superficial hydration, with or without systemic hydration, on acoustic parameters and perception of vocal fatigue. The study replicated a prior study by van Wyk et al (2016) with some modifications; we looked at the effect of both systemic and superficial hydration independently and together on voice quality and vocal fatigue. Acoustic measurements including GRBASI, jitter, shimmer, F 0 MPT, frequency min and max, intensity min and max, and dysphonia severity index were measured along with perceived vocal fatigue using the Vocal Fatigue Index. Results. A statistically significant increase in MPT values were obtained when comparing pre-and post-test results of the hypo hydrated (P = 0.015) and superficial hydration condition (P = 0.004). A significant increase in frequency min (Hz) within the hypo hydrated condition was also observed (P = 0.019). A significant increase was observed in the intensity min (dB) (P = 0.010) and F 0 min (Hz) (P = 0.002) within the combined hydration condition. Also, when superficial hydration was applied, mean shimmer % (P = 0.016), MPT (sec) (P = 0.003) and dysphonia severity index (P = 0.020) scores increased significantly in a between-group, post-test comparison. A significant reduction in mean intensity max (dB) (P = 0.049) and intensity min (dB) (P = 0.018) was also observed. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that the use of superficial hydration results in positive outcomes of perceptual parameters of voice quality and symptoms of vocal fatigue in future female professional singers. However, mixed results were observed regarding the acoustic parameters of voice. The superficial hydration data is compelling enough to warrant implementing in a vocal hygiene protocol for singers.

International Journal of Phonosurgery & Laryngology, 2011

Introduction Voice overuse may result in roughness, fatigue and pain while speaking. Vocal loading tasks have been used to assess changes in voice quality under different controlled settings. This study was done to document changes in voice characteristics before, immediately and 24 hours post-vocal loading task (VLT) using stroboscopic and acoustic analysis. Materials and methods Ten healthy adult males (age range: 20 to 40 years) with no apparent comorbid illness participated in the study. They were instructed to read the standard Rainbow passage at intensity above 75 dB SPL until they perceived any symptoms of fatigue/ strain. Stroboscopy and comprehensive voice assessment were done on all subjects before, immediate post VLT and 24 hours post VLT. Results Symptoms of vocal fatigue were noted on an average of 45 minutes of loud reading. Vocal fold edema, ventricular band hyperadduction and arytenoid congestion were noticed in immediate post task. The vocal fold movements were asym...

Objectives. To examine the current state of the science regarding the role of systemic hydration in vocal function and health. Study Design. Literature review. Methods. Literature search spanning multiple disciplines, including speech-language pathology, nutrition and dietetics, medicine, sports and exercise science, physiology, and biomechanics. Results. The relationship between hydration and physical function is an area of common interest among multiple professions. Each discipline provides valuable insight into the connection between performance and water balance, as well as complimentary methods of investigation. Existing voice literature suggests a relationship between hydration and voice production; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet defined and a treatment effect for systemic hydration remains to be demonstrated. Literature from other disciplines sheds light on methodological shortcomings and, in some cases, offers an alternative explanation for observed phenomena. Conclusions. A growing body of literature in the field of voice science is documenting a relationship between hydration and vocal function; however, greater understanding is required to guide best practice in the maintenance of vocal health and management of voice disorders. Integration of knowledge and technical expertise from multiple disciplines facilitates analysis of existing literature and provides guidance as to future research.

Journal of Voice, 1995

The purpose of this article is to present the results of a controlled study of the day-to-day variabilities of three acoustic parameters (jitter, shimmer, and normalized noise energy), and two electroglottographic parameters (contact quotient and contact quotient perturbation) for vowels produced at three vocal efforts (low, normal, high). Data were obtained with use of a sophisticated bilinear interpolation pitch detection method. A repeated measures design required subjects to produce the vowels/2e/and/a/five times a day over 3 days at each vocal effort level. The jitter, shimmer, and normalized noise energy values from acoustic measures and contact quotient and contact quotient perturbation values varied significantly among the three vocal effort levels. The clinical implication of this finding is that vocal effort must be controlled in order to obtain consistent clinical measures. Furthermore, dayto-day variability must be taken into account if representative measures are to be obtained for clinical use. Key Words: Jitter--Shimmer--Glottal noise--Perturbation--Contact quotient--Contact quotient perturbation--Vocal effort-Vocal function--Pitch period detection.

2008

How and why do vocal tract resonances and articulation change when shouting? Vocal tract resonances R1 and R2, Open quotient, Fundamental frequency, voice intensity, larynx height, lip aperture and spreading were simultaneously recorded for a female native speaker of French, on 7 French vowels and for 3 different conditions of increasing vocal effort: "normally" (S1), when keeping a pitch constant (S2) and when keeping both pitch and articulatory position constant (S3). R1 depends not only on articulation, but also on open quotient and larynx height. Results suggest that raising R1 and hyper-articulating in loud speech may serve to tune R1 to the first or the second voice harmonic, and thus help in increasing voice intensity.

Journal of Voice, 2001

Vocal warm-up was studied in terms of changes in voice parameters during a 45-minute vocal loading session in the morning. The voices of a randomly chosen group of 40 female and 40 male young students were loaded by having them read a novel aloud. The exposure groups (5 females and 5 males per cell) consisted of eight combinations of the following factors: (1) low (25 ± 5%) or high (65 ± 5%) relative humidity of ambient air; (2) low [< 65 dB(SPL)] or high [> 65 dB(SPL)] speech output level during vocal loading; (3) sitting or standing posture during vocal loading. Two sets of voice samples were recorded: a resting sample before the loading session and a loading sample after the loading session. The material recorded consisted of /pa:ppa/ words produced normally, as softly and as loudly as possible in this order by all subjects. The long /a/ vowel of the test word was inverse-filtered to obtain the glottal flow waveform. Time domain parameters of the glottal flow [open quotient (OQ), closing quotient (CQ), speed quotient (SQ), fundamental frequency (F 0)], amplitude domain parameters of the glottal flow [glottal flow (f AC) and its logarithm, minimum of the first derivative of the glottal flow (d peak) and its logarithm, amplitude quotient (AQ), and a new parameter, CQAQ], intraoral pressure (p), and sound pressure level (SPL) values of the phonations were analyzed. Voice range profiles (VRP) and the singer's formant (g/G, a/A, c1/c, e1/e, g1/g for females/males) of the loud phonation were also measured. Statistically significant differences between the preloading and postloading samples could be seen in many parameters, but the differences depended on gender and the type of phonation. In females the values of CQ, AQ, and CQAQ decreased and the values of SQ and p increased in normal phonations; the values of f AC , d peak , and SPL increased in soft phonations; the values of AQ and CQAQ decreased in loud phonations; the harmonic energy in the singer's formant region increased significantly at every pitch. In males the values of OQ and AQ de-VRP, whereas the case was the opposite for standing position.

Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2006

OBJECTIVESTo collect objective vibration dose data on singers and relate them to subjective measurements of vocal fatigue.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGSeven subjects completed a 2‐week study period. The National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS) dosimeter recorded vocal load, soft phonation tasks, and subjective soft voice ratings. Three vocal doses (time, distance, and cycle) were measured in classical singers&#39; larynges during an intensive practice period.RESULTSSpikes in vocal load are reflected as harsher subjective ratings on the same day as well as 24‐72 hours later. When at least 48 hours of vocal rest occurred before a vocal load, improved subjective evaluations were seen after the load.CONCLUSIONSThe NCVS dosimeter appears to be an effective tool for data collection on prolonged use of the voice.SIGNIFICANCEThis is the first multi‐day study comparing objective and subjective data on vocal fatigue in a group of professional singers.

2019

The present study examines acoustic manifestations of the vocal fatigue in three groups of voice professionals (pronunciation teachers, professional speakers and tourist guides) who seem to be particularly susceptible to vocal loading. In the paper data collecting and the non-fatigue/fatigue speech corpus are described. The detailed acoustic analysis of the data obtained is presented. The results of the acoustic analysis showed a consistent dependency between acoustic parameters and vocal fatigue in terms of F0, jitter and shimmer values. The results can contribute to objective voice examinations and automatic voice pathology detection.

2015

This study aims at investigating the acoustic correlates of supralaryngeal and muscular tension voice quality settings (VQS). Speech samples from 40 speakers were perceptually analyzed by means of the Vocal Profile Analysis Scheme (VPAS). Acoustic analysis comprised formant frequency (F1, F2 and F3) and intensity measurements (I1, I2 and I3) of seven Brazilian Portuguese vowels. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to take into account the discriminant capability of the acoustic measures to detect VQS as well as influences from gender, age and vowel type. The results have shown the discriminant power of formant measures to predict neutral and non-neutral VQS: I1, F3, I3 and I2 correlated with supralaryngeal VQS and F1 and F1, I2 and I3 with muscular tension.The canonical correlation analysis of VQS, formant measures and gender variables have shown that neutral VQS grouped with F1 and F2 and non-neutral VQS grouped with F3, I1, I2 and I3.