Evaluation of vocal fold vibratory patterns in normal voices

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this study was to test a rating protocol for video-stroboscopic data on normal subjects. Five women, ages 22–26 years, with no history of laryngeal pathology served as pilot subjects. They produced the vowel /ɛ/ both at their speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and one octave above at a controlled intensity level. Results revealed that, in general, the rating protocol could be used with high levels of intra- and interjudge reliability. In terms of observed intersubject variability, some scales (degree of glottic closure, description of glottic closure, and amplitude of full excursion) revealed more variability among subjects than others (symmetry of amplitude, symmetry of phase, and anterior-posterior symmetry).