Objective Evaluation of Dysphonia: Preliminary Results of a Device Allowing Simultaneous Acoustic and Aerodynamic Measurements

Aims: To assess whether individual parameters or combinations of voice range profile parameters (also called ‘features’) are able to yield a clear cluster separation with which three basic female voice categories can be discriminated and can provide a basis for settling the issue of voice classification. Methods: The voice range profiles of 206 female conservatory singing students were recorded, parameterized into more compact descriptions (‘features’), and subjected to a cluster analysis. Results: The three-cluster case provided the most consistent solution across all feature combinations. The feature that led to the best cluster separation was the ratio of the perimeter length of the chest voice part of the voice range profile versus the total perimeter length. Conclusions: Based on a statistical analysis of voice range profile parameters, the ratio of the perimeter length of the chest voice versus the total perimeter length was shown to yield a clear separation into three basic female voice types, which in turn may give us a basis for settling the issue of voice classification.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrimination of Three Basic Female Voice Types in Female Singing Students by Voice Range Profile-Derived Parameters

Lycke

Decoster²,

Ivanova³

et al. 2012

“…It also serves as the gold standard for development of objective voice evaluation techniques as previously reported by several teams [1]. Ascertaining the reliability of perceptual voice analysis is of central importance in the field of voice physiology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Correlation of Instrumental Voice Evaluation with Perceptual Voice Analysis Using a Modified Visual Analog Scale

Révis

Wuyts

et al. 2002

Self Cite

Various rating scales have been used for perceptual voice analysis including ordinal (ORD) scales and visual analog (VA) scales. The purpose of this study was to determine the most suitable scale for studies using perceptual voice analysis as a gold standard for validation of objective analysis protocols. The study was carried out on 74 female voice samples from 68 dysphonic patients and 6 controls. A panel of 4 raters with experience in perceptual analysis was asked to score voices according to the G component (overall quality) of the GRBAS system. Two rating scales were used. The first was a conventional 4-point ORD scale. The second was a modified VA (mVA) scale obtained by transforming the VA scale into an ORD scale using a weighted conversion scheme. Objective voice evaluation was performed using the EVA^® workstation. Objective measurements included acoustic, aerodynamic, and physiologic parameters as well as parameters based on nonlinear mathematics (e.g., Lyapunov coefficient). Instrumental measurements were compared with results of perceptual analysis using either the conventional ORD scale or mVA scale. Results demonstrate that correlation between perceptual and objective voice judgments is better using a mVA scale than a conventional ORD scale (concordance, 88 vs. 64%). Data also indicate that the mVA scale described herein improves the correlation between objective and perceptual voice analysis.

“…Enfin, l'auditeur qui évalue une dysphonie sur la partie stable du /a/ tenu ignore l'information contenue dans les transitoires. Si l'on peut considérer que la parole et la /a/ tenu contiennent chacun tous les éléments constitutifs du signal de parole (transitoires et parties stables), la partie stable du /a/ tenu contient une information tronquée: l'absence de transitoires induit un manque d'information qui doit influencer l'évaluation de l'auditeur [3].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Influence de l’attaque sur l’analyse perceptive des dysphonies

Révis¹,

Triglia²

2002

Self Cite

Nous avons étudié l’analyse perceptive de la voix de 40 sujets dysphoniques et normaux avec la méthode GRBAS et par consensus de trois experts. Afin d’évaluer les effets de l’attaque sur l’évaluation du jury, nous lui avons présenté deux matériaux phonétiques pour chaque sujet: un /a/ tenu et le même /a/ tenu dont nous avons supprimé l’attaque. L’évaluation s’est déroulée à l’aveugle: les deux matériaux phonétiques étaient présentés au cours d’une même session dans un ordre aléatoire. Le jury d’écoute n’a pas remarqué la présence de /a/ tenus sans attaque. L’étude de l’influence de l’attaque sur la perception du jury a reposé sur le pourcentage de réponses identiques retrouvées sur les deux matériaux. Nos résultats ont montré que l’influence de l’attaque varie en fonction du niveau de dysphonie. L’attaque serait déterminante pour la discrimination des dysphonies intermédiaires (G1 et G2) et négligeable dans les cas de voix normales (G0) et de dysphonies sévères (G3).