Formant-Estimated Vocal Tract Length and Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activation During Modulation of Vocal Effort in Healthy Speakers

Groll, Matti D.; McKenna, Victoria S.; Hablani, Surbhi; Stepp, Cara E.

doi:10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00234

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 34 publications

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“…Changes in VTL cause a change to all formant frequencies, with a shorter VTL corresponding to increased formant frequencies [ 82 , 85 , 86 ]. A simple relationship between VTL and formant frequency can be derived by modelling the vocal tract as a uniform tube that is closed at one end and open at the other, which exhibits odd quarter-wave harmonic resonances [ 86 , 87 ]. More reliable estimates can be made using higher formant frequencies (F3 and F4) as they are more stable [ 88 , 89 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mixed-method feasibility study of the use of the Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), a pedagogic method to improve the voice and vocal function in singers and actors, in the treatment of patients with muscle tension dysphonia: a study protocol

McGlashan

Aaen

White

et al. 2023

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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Background Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) results from inefficient or ineffective voice production and is the cause of voice and throat complaints in up to 40% of patients presenting with hoarseness. Standard treatment is voice therapy (SLT-VT) delivered by specialist speech therapists in voice disorders (SLT-V). The Complete Vocal Technique (CVT) is a structured, pedagogic method which helps healthy singers and other performers optimise their vocal function enabling them to produce any sound required. The aim of this feasibility study is to investigate whether CVT administered by a trained, non-clinical CVT practitioner (CVT-P) can be applied to patients with MTD before progressing to a pilot randomised control study of CVT voice therapy (CVT-VT) versus SLT-VT. Methods/design In this feasibility study, we use a mixed-method, single-arm, prospective cohort design. The primary aim is to demonstrate whether CVT-VT can improve the voice and vocal function in patients with MTD in a pilot study using multidimensional assessment methods. Secondary aims are to assess whether (1) a CVT-VT study is feasible to perform; (2) is acceptable to patients, the CVT-P and SLT-VTs; and (3) whether CVT-VT differs from existing SLT-VT techniques. A minimum of 10 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of primary MTD (types I–III) will be recruited over a 6-month period. Up to 6 video sessions of CVT-VT will be delivered by a CVT-P using a video link. The primary outcome will be a change in pre-/post-therapy scores of a self-reported patient questionnaire (Voice Handicap Index (VHI)). Secondary outcomes include changes in throat symptoms (Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale), acoustic/electroglottographic and auditory-perceptual measures of voice. Acceptability of the CVT-VT will be assessed prospectively, concurrently and retrospectively both quantitatively and qualitatively. Differences from SLT-VT will be assessed by performing a deductive thematic analysis of CVT-P transcripts of therapy sessions. Conclusion This feasibility study will provide important data to support whether to proceed with a randomised controlled pilot study focusing on the effectiveness of the intervention compared to standard SLT-VT. Progression criteria will be based on demonstrating a positive outcome in treatment, successful delivery of the pilot study protocol, acceptability to all stakeholders and satisfactory recruitment rates. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT05365126 Unique Protocol ID: 19ET004). Registered on 06 May 2022.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mixed-method feasibility study of the use of the Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), a pedagogic method to improve the voice and vocal function in singers and actors, in the treatment of patients with muscle tension dysphonia: a study protocol

McGlashan

Aaen

White

et al. 2023

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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Impact of Vocal Effort on Respiratory and Articulatory Kinematics

Abur

Perkell

Stepp

2022

J Speech Lang Hear Res

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Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the effects of increases in vocal effort, without changing speech intensity, on respiratory and articulatory kinematics in young adults with typical voices. Method: A total of 10 participants completed a reading task under three speaking conditions: baseline, mild vocal effort, and maximum vocal effort. Respiratory inductance plethysmography bands around the chest and abdomen were used to estimate lung volumes during speech, and sensor coils for electromagnetic articulography were used to transduce articulatory movements, resulting in the following outcome measures: lung volume at speech initiation (LVSI) and at speech termination (LVST), articulatory kinematic vowel space (AKVS) of two points on the tongue dorsum (body and blade), and lip aperture. Results: With increases in vocal effort, and no statistical changes in speech intensity, speakers showed: (a) no statistically significant differences in LVST, (b) statistically significant increases in LVSI, (c) no statistically significant differences in AKVS measures, and (d) statistically significant reductions in lip aperture. Conclusions: Speakers with typical voices exhibited larger lung volumes at speech initiation during increases in vocal effort, paired with reduced lip displacements. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate evidence that articulatory kinematics are impacted by modulations in vocal effort. However, the mechanisms underlying vocal effort may differ between speakers with and without voice disorders. Thus, future work should examine the relationship between articulatory kinematics, respiratory kinematics, and laryngeal-level changes during vocal effort in speakers with and without voice disorders. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17065457

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Using a vertical three-mass computational model of the vocal folds to match human phonation of three adult males

Perrine,

Scherer

2023

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

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Computer models of phonation are used to study various parameters that are difficult to control, measure, and observe in human subjects. Imitating human phonation by varying the prephonatory conditions of computer models offers insight into the variations that occur across human phonatory production. In the present study, a vertical three-mass computer model of phonation [Perrine, Scherer, Fulcher, and Zhai (2020). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 147, 1727–1737], driven by empirical pressures from a physical model of the vocal folds (model M5), with a vocal tract following the design of Ishizaka and Flanagan [(1972). Bell Sys. Tech. J. 51, 1233–1268] was used to match prolonged vowels produced by three male subjects using various pitch and loudness levels. The prephonatory conditions of tissue mass and tension, subglottal pressure, glottal diameter and angle, posterior glottal gap, false vocal fold gap, and vocal tract cross-sectional areas were varied in the model to match the model output with the fundamental frequency, alternating current airflow, direct current airflow, skewing quotient, open quotient, maximum flow negative derivative, and the first three formant frequencies from the human production. Parameters were matched between the model and human subjects with an average overall percent mismatch of 4.40% (standard deviation = 6.75%), suggesting a reasonable ability of the simple low dimensional model to mimic these variables.

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Formant-Estimated Vocal Tract Length and Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activation During Modulation of Vocal Effort in Healthy Speakers

Cited by 4 publications

References 34 publications

A mixed-method feasibility study of the use of the Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), a pedagogic method to improve the voice and vocal function in singers and actors, in the treatment of patients with muscle tension dysphonia: a study protocol

A mixed-method feasibility study of the use of the Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), a pedagogic method to improve the voice and vocal function in singers and actors, in the treatment of patients with muscle tension dysphonia: a study protocol

Impact of Vocal Effort on Respiratory and Articulatory Kinematics

Using a vertical three-mass computational model of the vocal folds to match human phonation of three adult males

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