The Relationship Between Physiological Mechanisms and the Self-Perception of Vocal Effort

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to examine the relationship between a large set of hypothesized physiological measures of vocal effort and self-ratings of vocal effort. Method Twenty-six healthy adults modulated speech rate and vocal effort during repetitions of the utterance /ifi/, followed by self-perceptual ratings of vocal effort on a visual analog scale. Physiological measures included (a) intrinsic laryngeal tension via kinematic stiffness ratios determined from high-speed laryngoscopy, (b) extrinsic suprahyoid and infrahyoid laryngeal tension via normalized percent activations and durations derived from surface electromyography, (c) supraglottal compression via expert visual–perceptual ratings, and (d) subglottal pressure via magnitude of neck surface vibrations from an accelerometer signal. Results Individual statistical models revealed that all of the physiological predictors, except for kinematic stiffness ratios, were significantly predictive of self-ratings of vocal effort. However, a combined regression model analysis yielded only 3 significant predictors: subglottal pressure, mediolateral supraglottal compression, and the normalized percent activation of the suprahyoid muscles (adjusted R 2 = .60). Conclusions Vocal effort manifests as increases in specific laryngeal physiological measures. Further work is needed to examine these measures in combination with other contributing factors, as well as in speakers with dysphonia.

Voice Acoustics and Vocal Effort in Mask-Wearing Healthcare Professionals: A Comparison Pre- and Post-Workday

“…A subsequent analysis of the same participants from McKenna and Stepp 29 further revealed that increased subglottal pressure estimates, medial supraglottic compression, and increased activation of suprahyoid muscles were significantly related to the self-perception of vocal effort. 28 The authors suggested that the physiological basis of vocal effort may, in fact, overlap with the symptoms of those with increased laryngeal tension and/or hyperfunctional vocal behavior. This hypothesis falls in line with the research by Remacle et al, 21 which found that a subset (9%) of their participants exhibited acoustic responses to occupational loading that were consistent with increased glottal adduction (ie, increased HNR with simultaneous reduction in shimmer).…”

Optical Flow Analysis of Paralaryngeal Muscle Movement

“…However, there were no movement pattern differences with vocal onsets and offsets between subjects with and without pMTD using optical flow analysis for either suprahyoid or infrahyoid muscles. The lack of group differences using objective and quantifiable methods like optical flow to study phonatory paralaryngeal movement patterns in the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle groups challenges clinical wisdom that vocal hyperfunction in the paralaryngeal muscles occurs and contributes to vocal dysfunction in patients with pMTD, [1][2][3]10,11,14,15 at least at modal pitch and loudness.…”

The effects of vocal exertion on lung volume measurements and acoustics in speakers reporting high and low vocal fatigue

“…In fact, avoiding compensatory strain is at least a secondary target of most voice therapy regimens [ 63 – 67 ]. In addition, avoiding compensatory strain could be beneficial over an extended period of time, whereas vocal strain might quickly lead to negative vocal symptoms [ 68 , 69 ]. This finding could, in part, be related to the type of vocal exertion task used in this study.…”