Acoustic Features of Voice in Patients with Snoring

Abstract

Objective: Determine whether the acoustic characteristics of snoring sounds differed between 30 simple male adult snorers (group A) and 30 healthy adult male subject (group B) by using a multidimensional voice program (MDVP), which is a commonly used computer program that analyzes various aspects of voice. Method: Group A patients presented a Friedman tongue position grade I, tonsil size 2 to 3, a body mass index of 15. Phonetically balanced sentences and sustained vowels a, e, and i were digitally recorded with the MDVP; evaluation of voice handicap index (VHI) was done too. Results: Compared with control group, in group A: the acoustic parameters presented a statistically significantly higher value ( P < .05) of fundamental frequency (158.2 Hz vs 120.2 Hz), jitter (2.03 % vs 0.66 %), shimmer (6.54 % vs 3.77 %), NHR (0.24 vs 0.11), SPI (13.7 vs 8.71), DVB (2.23 % vs 0.12 %), DUV (9.31 % vs 0.54 %) and vAm (22.09 % vs 11.13 %), according to the degree of hearing loss; VHI had a mean value of 66 (vs 37 of group B). Conclusion: The study indicates that snoring affects voice production by changing its acoustic parameters. A voice analysis program MDVP can be used for snoring sound analysis as a noninvasive procedure for examination of sleep-related breathing disorders.