Speaking Fundamental Frequency Research Articles

Cortical responses time-locked to continuous speech in the high-gamma band depend on selective attention.

Auditory cortical responses to speech obtained by magnetoencephalography (MEG) show robust speech tracking to the speaker's fundamental frequency in the high-gamma band (70-200 Hz), but little is currently known about whether such responses depend on the focus of selective attention. In this study 22 human subjects listened to concurrent, fixed-rate, speech from male and female speakers, and were asked to selectively attend to one speaker at a time, while their neural responses were recorded with MEG. The male speaker's pitch range coincided with the lower range of the high-gamma band, whereas the female speaker's higher pitch range had much less overlap, and only at the upper end of the high-gamma band. Neural responses were analyzed using the temporal response function (TRF) framework. As expected, the responses demonstrate robust speech tracking of the fundamental frequency in the high-gamma band, but only to the male's speech, with a peak latency of ~40 ms. Critically, the response magnitude depends on selective attention: the response to the male speech is significantly greater when male speech is attended than when it is not attended, under acoustically identical conditions. This is a clear demonstration that even very early cortical auditory responses are influenced by top-down, cognitive, neural processing mechanisms.

Voice Discrimination in Quiet and in Background Noise by Simulated and Real Cochlear Implant Users.

Cochlear implant (CI) users demonstrate poor voice discrimination (VD) in quiet conditions based on the speaker's fundamental frequency (fo) and formant frequencies (i.e., vocal-tract length [VTL]). Our purpose was to examine the effect of background noise at levels that allow good speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) on VD via acoustic CI simulations and CI hearing. Forty-eight normal-hearing (NH) listeners who listened via noise-excited (n = 20) or sinewave (n = 28) vocoders and 10 prelingually deaf CI users (i.e., whose hearing loss began before language acquisition) participated in the study. First, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that yields 70.7% correct SRT was assessed using an adaptive sentence-in-noise test. Next, the CI simulation listeners performed 12 adaptive VDs: six in quiet conditions, two with each cue (fo, VTL, fo + VTL), and six amid speech-shaped noise. The CI participants performed six VDs: one with each cue, in quiet and amid noise. SNR at VD testing was 5 dB higher than the individual's SRT in noise (SRTn +5 dB). Results showed the following: (a) Better VD was achieved via the noise-excited than the sinewave vocoder, with the noise-excited vocoder better mimicking CI VD; (b) background noise had a limited negative effect on VD, only for the CI simulation listeners; and (c) there was a significant association between SNR at testing and VTL VD only for the CI simulation listeners. For NH listeners who listen to CI simulations, noise that allows good SRT can nevertheless impede VD, probably because VD depends more on bottom-up sensory processing. Conversely, for prelingually deaf CI users, noise that allows good SRT hardly affects VD, suggesting that they rely strongly on bottom-up processing for both VD and speech recognition.

One Year Outcomes and Longitudinal Changes in Voice Improvement With Single High Dose Intracordal Trafermin Injections for Age-Related Vocal Fold Atrophy

Although intracordal trafermin injection has been performed in the treatment of age-related vocal fold atrophy, the effects of single high dose trafermin injections are unknown. In this study, we examined the 1 year outcomes and longitudinal changes in voice improvement with single high dose intracordal trafermin injections. Retrospective study with approval by our Ethics Committee. The medical records of 34 patients who underwent single high dose (50ug per side) intracordal trafermin injections under local anesthesia for vocal fold atrophy were retrospectively reviewed at 1 month pre-injection and 1 month, 6 months and 1 year post injection. Maximum phonation time (MPT), pitch range (PR), Japanese version of voice handicap index (VHI), grade of GRBAS evaluation, and jitter% improved significantly at 1-year post-injection compared to 1-month pre-injection. MPT and PR improved as early as 1-month post-injection and continued to improve most at 1-year post-injection. VHI showed negative progression from 6-months to 1-year post-injection, during which time the speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) changed to the high pitch in men. Single high dose intracordal trafermin injections can be expected to improve voice in the early post-injection period and to maintain its effect for 1 year. SFF may play a role in worsening VHI in men. level 4.

Type 4 Thyroplasty Can Improve the Speaking Fundamental Frequency and Quality of Life of Patients with MTF/GID

Male to female gender identity disorder (MTF/GID) is a rare condition. Such patients tend to complain that their speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) does not fit because it is too low. Type 4 thyroplasty (TP4) conversely increases the pitch of the SFF as the tension of the vocal fold is tightened causing the SFF to become high-pitched. While vocal pitch disorder is not life-threatening for patients with MTF/GID, it can cause substantial worry and stress. TP4 can therefore improve the quality of life of patients with MTF/GID.

Behavioral Treatment Approaches to Lowering Pitch in the Female Voice

To assess the outcomes of three voice therapy treatment approaches with an emphasis on lowering speaking pitch. Transmasculine and cisgender individuals may desire to lower their speaking pitch, yet there has not been a method described in the literature to do this effectively using only behavioral techniques. To investigate these approaches, we enrolled 32 adult cisgender females and randomly assigned them to one of four treatment groups: vocal function exercises (VFE), resonant voice therapy (RVT), lip-rounding therapy (LRT), and a control group. Participants received individual instruction and feedback on the given exercise program, and they continued to practice daily for 4 weeks. Acoustic recordings were collected before treatment, immediately after the first session, and after 4 weeks of treatment. Results showed a lower minimum pitch in the physiological range, lower speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) in reading, and lower SFF in spontaneous speech-with treatment groups performing better than the control group. Additionally, participants' self-rating of the vocal effort expended to speak in a low pitch decreased over the treatment period. Each treatment approach (VFE, RVT, and LRT) was successful in lowering the speaking pitch of cisgender females. These methods would likely be useful for clients seeking to speak in a lower pitch. Future research may expand results to include clinical populations, such as transmasculine individuals.

The neural response at the fundamental frequency of speech is modulated by word-level acoustic and linguistic information.

Spoken language comprehension requires rapid and continuous integration of information, from lower-level acoustic to higher-level linguistic features. Much of this processing occurs in the cerebral cortex. Its neural activity exhibits, for instance, correlates of predictive processing, emerging at delays of a few 100 ms. However, the auditory pathways are also characterized by extensive feedback loops from higher-level cortical areas to lower-level ones as well as to subcortical structures. Early neural activity can therefore be influenced by higher-level cognitive processes, but it remains unclear whether such feedback contributes to linguistic processing. Here, we investigated early speech-evoked neural activity that emerges at the fundamental frequency. We analyzed EEG recordings obtained when subjects listened to a story read by a single speaker. We identified a response tracking the speaker's fundamental frequency that occurred at a delay of 11 ms, while another response elicited by the high-frequency modulation of the envelope of higher harmonics exhibited a larger magnitude and longer latency of about 18 ms with an additional significant component at around 40 ms. Notably, while the earlier components of the response likely originate from the subcortical structures, the latter presumably involves contributions from cortical regions. Subsequently, we determined the magnitude of these early neural responses for each individual word in the story. We then quantified the context-independent frequency of each word and used a language model to compute context-dependent word surprisal and precision. The word surprisal represented how predictable a word is, given the previous context, and the word precision reflected the confidence about predicting the next word from the past context. We found that the word-level neural responses at the fundamental frequency were predominantly influenced by the acoustic features: the average fundamental frequency and its variability. Amongst the linguistic features, only context-independent word frequency showed a weak but significant modulation of the neural response to the high-frequency envelope modulation. Our results show that the early neural response at the fundamental frequency is already influenced by acoustic as well as linguistic information, suggesting top-down modulation of this neural response.

How Can We Predict the Recovery from Pitch Lowering After Thyroidectomy?

Some of patients are suffered from pitch lowering of voice after thyroidectomy. We sought to identify factors predictive of a recovery from lowered pitch voice after thyroid surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 133 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy to treat papillary carcinoma between January 2012 and February 2013. Of these, we enrolled 78 who exhibited a lower-pitched voice (SFF fall > 12Hz) at 2weeks post-operatively than pre-operatively and investigated pitch recovery after 3months. We subclassified patients into recovery and non-recovery groups and compared videostroboscopic findings, acoustic voice data, and thyroidectomy-related voice questionnaire scores pre-operatively and 2, 8, and 12weeks post-operatively. Vocal cord asymmetry on videostroboscopic examination at 2weeks post-operatively (odds ratio 19.056, p = 0.001*) was more frequent in the non-recovery group. In acoustic analysis, mean pre-operative SFF was higher in the non-recovery group than the recovery group (190.9± 27.5 and 180.9 ± 24.6Hz, respectively; p = 0.030*). Also, a reduction in the SFF of > 19.6Hz, at 2weeks post-operatively versus pre-operatively, predicted non-recovery of pitch-lowering in patients with reduced SFF within post-operative 3months, with 72.0% sensitivity and 71.2% specificity. After 6months of follow-up, no patient who exhibited an SFF fall > 19.6Hz recovered to within 10Hz of the pre-operative value. A reduction in the speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) > 19.6Hz at 2weeks post-operatively predicted persisting lowering of voice pitch after thyroidectomy among those with lower-pitched voices after surgery. Pre-operative high SFF and post-operative stroboscopic findings including vocal cord asymmetry at 2weeks post-operatively also predicted persisting lowering of voice pitch for 3months.

정상 성인에서 음성 및 말소리 범위 프로파일을 이용한 발화 기본주파수 예측*

This study sought to investigate whether mean speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) can be predicted by parameters of voice and speech range profile (VRP and SRP) in Korean normal adults. Moreover, it explored whether gender differences exist in the absolute differences between the SFF and estimated SFF (ESFF) predicted by the VRP and SRP. A total of 85 native Korean speakers with normal voice participated in the study. Each participant was asked to perform the VRP task using the vowel /a/ and the SRP task using the first sentence of a Korean standard passage “Ga-eul”. In addition, the SFF was measured with electroglottography during a passage reading task. Predictive factors of the SFF were explored and the absolute difference between the SFF and the ESFF (DSFF) was compared between gender groups. Results indicated that predictive factors were age, gender, minimum pitch and pitch range for the VRP (adjusted <italic>R</italic>² = .931), and pitch range (in semi-tones) and maximum pitch for the SRP (adjusted <italic>R</italic>² = .963), respectively. The SFF and ESFF predicted by the VRP and SRP showed a strong positive correlation. The DSFF of the VRP and SRP, as well as their sum did not differ by gender. In conclusion, the SFF during a passage reading task could be successfully predicted by the parameters of the VRP and SRP tasks. In further studies, clinical implications need to be explored in patients who may exhibit deviations in SFF.

New Vocal Fold-shortening Procedure: External Approach to Anterior Vocal Fold Plication

We believe that our new procedure offers a useful external approach to anterior vocal fold plication. Vocal cord shortening by laryngomicrosurgery (LMS) involves plication of the anterior commissure, but this difficult procedure requires high-level skills. Dehiscence of the plicated location may occur postoperatively. In the present case, we applied an innovative procedure combining vocal cord shortening by LMS with cervical incision. This facilitated plication, and no postoperative dehiscence was encountered. Speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) was 110 Hz at the first visit, 170 Hz after type 4 thyroplasty, 167 Hz after thyroarytenoid muscle myectomy, and 208 Hz after the present procedure, representing a good outcome. This procedure could be useful when the SFF is not sufficiently raised by existing procedures. The risk of postoperative dehiscence of the plicated location is low compared with LMS. The patient consulted with a major complaint of low vocal pitch. At the first visit, SFF was 110 Hz, suggesting a male voice. In April 201X, type 4 thyroplasty was performed and successfully raised SFF to 170 Hz. As the patient did not readily pass as a woman, thyroarytenoid muscle myectomy was performed in February 201X +1 but only achieved an SFF of 167 Hz, which was considered unsatisfactory. As a result, the procedure was performed again in September 201X +1.

Electric and acoustic harmonic integration predicts speech-in-noise performance in hybrid cochlear implant users

BackgroundPitch perception of complex tones relies on place or temporal fine structure-based mechanisms from resolved harmonics and the temporal envelope of unresolved harmonics. Combining this information is essential for speech-in-noise performance, as it allows segregation of a target speaker from background noise. In hybrid cochlear implant (H-CI) users, low frequency acoustic hearing should provide pitch from resolved harmonics while high frequency electric hearing should provide temporal envelope pitch from unresolved harmonics. How the acoustic and electric auditory inputs interact for H-CI users is largely unknown. Harmonicity and inharmonicity are emergent features of sound in which overtones are concordant or discordant with the fundamental frequency. We hypothesized that some H-CI users would be able to integrate acoustic and electric information for complex tone pitch perception, and that this ability would be correlated with speech-in-noise performance. In this study, we used perception of inharmonicity to demonstrate this integration. MethodsFifteen H-CI users with only acoustic hearing below 500 Hz, only electric hearing above 2 kHz, and more than 6 months CI experience, along with eighteen normal hearing (NH) controls, were presented with harmonic and inharmonic sounds. The stimulus was created with a low frequency component, corresponding with the H-CI user's acoustic hearing (fundamental frequency between 125 and 174 Hz), and a high frequency component, corresponding with electric hearing. Subjects were asked to identify the more inharmonic sound, which requires the perceptual integration of the low and high components. Speech-in-noise performance was tested in both groups using the California Consonant Test (CCT), and perception of Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) words in quiet and AzBio sentences in noise were tested for the H-CI users. ResultsEight of the H-CI subjects (53%), and all of the NH subjects, scored significantly above chance level for at least one subset of the inharmonicity detection task. Inharmonicity detection ability, but not age or pure tone average, predicted speech scores in a linear model. These results were significantly correlated with speech scores in both quiet and noise for H-CI users, but not with speech in noise performance for NH listeners. Musical experience predicted inharmonicity detection ability, but did not predict speech performance. ConclusionsWe demonstrate integration of acoustic and electric information in H-CI users for complex pitch sensation. The correlation with speech scores in H-CI users might be associated with the ability to segregate a target speaker from background noise using the speaker's fundamental frequency.

The Effect of Smoking on the Fundamental Frequency of the Speaking Voice

Little is known about the impact of smoking on voice acoustics. Some studies have found that tobacco affects the fundamental frequency of the voice, whereas others have not. This study aimed to overcome the major methodological limitations observed in previous studies by strictly controlling several variables that could clarify the effect of smoking on the speaking voice. Lebanese men were chosen for this study. Thirty nonsmokers, 30 cigarette smokers, and 30 water-pipe smokers were matched on the basis of age, height, and weight. The 90 participants were asked to complete the Voice Handicap Index, sustain the vowel /a/, read 10 sentences in French and Arabic, and speak spontaneously in both languages. The mean fundamental frequency (F0), speaking fundamental frequency (SFF), jitter, and standard deviation of F0 were measured using Praat and Vocalab4 and were compared between the groups. The Voice Handicap Index scores differed significantly between nonsmokers and cigarette smokers and between nonsmokers and water-pipe smokers. Results also show that cigarette smokers' F0 and SFF were significantly lower than nonsmokers' results. No significant differences were found between water-pipe smokers and nonsmokers. The jitter and the standard deviation of F0 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Our findings clearly demonstrate the effect of smoking on the voice: smokers reported more voice complaints, and cigarette smokers presented lower F0 and SFF in French and in Arabic when age, height, and weight were controlled. Further investigations using similar strict controls over individual variables and additional measures are encouraged to better understand the effect of water-pipe smoking on the voice.

F0 Characteristics of Newsreaders on Varied Emotional Texts in Tamil Language

The objective of this study was to profile speaking F0 and its variations in newsreaders on varied emotional texts. This study has a prospective, case-control study design. Fifteen professional newsreaders and 15 non-newsreaders were the participants. The participants read the news bulletin that conveyed different emotions (shock, neutral, happy, and sad) in a habitual and "newsreading" voice. Speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and F0 variations were extracted from 1620 tokens using Praat software (version 5.2.32) on the opening lines, headlines, news stories, and closing lines of each news item. Paired t test, independent t test, and Friedman test were used for statistical analysis. Both male and female newsreaders had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher SFFs and standard deviations (SDs) of SFF in newsreading voice than speaking voice. Female non-newsreaders demonstrated significantly higher SFF and SD of SFF in newsreading voice, whereas no significant differences were noticed in the frequency parameters for male non-newsreaders. No significant difference was noted in the frequency parameters of speaking and newsreading voice between male newsreaders and male non-newsreaders. A significant difference in the SD of SFF was noticed between female newsreaders and female non-newsreaders in newsreading voice. Female newsreaders had a higher frequency range in both speaking voice and newsreading voice when compared with non-newsreaders. F0 characteristics and frequency range determine the amount of frequency changes exercised by newsreaders while reading bulletins. This information is highly pedagogic for training voices in this profession.

Pitch Range in the Production of Saudi and English Women

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: medium;"&gt;In the present small-scale preliminary study, we sampled four groups of younger and older female Arabic and English speakers to examine if speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) could show any systematic variations across languages and different age groups performing different tasks. All groups of speakers were recorded reading the North Wind and the Sun twice in their native language, and speaking spontaneously about themselves for around two minutes. Mean SFF values for each speaker and speaking task were obtained using Praat’s autocorrelation algorithm with a pitch range of 100-500Hz, with manual correction to remove spurious F0 values caused by doubling or halving the first harmonic. As well as presenting SFF results for all groups, mean values will be given for each group and speaking task. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Multivariate Analysis of Risk Factors in the Development of a Lower-Pitched Voice After Thyroidectomy.

Thyroid surgeons frequently encounter outpatients with mobile vocal cords complaining of lower-pitched voices following thyroidectomy. This study investigated the clinical and pathological parameters affecting voice pitch following thyroid surgery. We analyzed the data of 393 patients with mobile vocal cords and who also underwent thyroid surgery. Speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and fundamental frequency (F0) were compared before and after surgery. Approximately 26.7% of patients had significantly lowered SFFs (ΔSFF ≥ 12 Hz), and 30.2% exhibited significantly lower sustained vowel F0s (ΔF0 ≥ 12 Hz) following thyroid surgery. On multivariate analysis, only gender: female remained a significant predictor of a clinically significant change in SFF following thyroid surgery ( P < .001). Gender: female and extent of surgery: total remained significant predictors of a clinically significant change in F0 after surgery ( P = .006 and P = .007, respectively). Appreciable proportions of patients experience lower-pitched voice and related vocal symptoms early after thyroid surgery. Such problems develop more frequently in females who underwent total thyroidectomy.

Comparing speaking fundamental frequency in bilingual and L2-accented speech

This study investigates how speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) represents linguistic communities (Korean vs. English) between bilingual and monolingual speakers, and whether speech mode influences SFF. Twelve Korean-English sequential bilingual speakers (6 males, mean age = 26, SD = 4) and twelve Korean L2 learners of English (6 males, mean age = 26, SD = 3) participated in this study. In the controlled speech mode, subjects were recoded producing 22 declarative sentences as well as a short fable; in the spontaneous speech mode, subjects were asked to elaborate on well-known tales. Mean F0 and F0 range were measured for each sentence. The findings established a significant cross-linguistic difference in mean F0, with higher F0 in Korean than in English. We also found that the F0 range is influenced by speech mode, with lower mean F0 and greater F0 range in spontaneous mode. Interestingly, the F0 range differences between the two speech modes were greater in Korean than in English productions only for bi...

갑상선 수술범위에 따른 음성의 음향적 분석

Voice complication without the laryngeal nerve injury can occur after thyroidectomy. The purpose of this study is to investigate voice changes according to extent of thyroidectomy with acoustic analysis. Thirty-five female patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma took voice evaluation at before and 1 month, and 3 months after thyroidectomy. Acoustic analysis parameters were speaking fundamental frequency(SFF), min <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>, max <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>, dynamic range <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio(NHR), and Cepstral prominence peak(CPP). Repeated-measured analysis of variance was applied. Time-related voice changes showed significant differences in all parameters except NHR. At 1 month after surgery, voice quality was worse and pitch was decreasing, but voice quality and pitch were improving at 3-month follow-up. Voice changes according to the extent of surgery were in SFF, max <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>, and dynamic range <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>. Time by surgery-related voice change existed only in min <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>. The result showed that the severity of voice complication depended on the extend of thyroidectomy which had a negative impact on <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>-related parameters. The deterioration of voice quality at 1 month after thyroidectomy may be affected by the loss of thyroid hormone in the blood. The descent of <TEX>$F_0$</TEX>-related parameters may be impacted by laryngeal fixation of surgical site adhesion.

Voice deepening under testosterone treatment in female-to-male gender dysphoric individuals.

Female-to-male gender dysphoric individuals rarely access medical services for voice problems arising out of hormonal treatment leading to "voice reassignment". The aim of this study was a close monitoring of voice deepening in the first year following the commencement of testosterone treatment. Voice recordings from nine female-to-male (FTM) were analyzed with Praat software and values for speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) were calculated. Audio recordings were made prior to and within the first year (mean 55.2 weeks) of testosterone treatment at a mean of 35.4 different time points. The values for speaking fundamental frequency were compared with values taken from 21 biological men with healthy voices. The 10th to 90th percentile range of FTM overlapped with those of biological men after about 36 weeks. The mean SFF change was a decrease of 8.78 seminotes at week 52 and at this point in time no significant difference between SSF in FTM and biological men was found. Testosterone treatment led to significant voice deepening within the first year with the degree of change decreasing over time. Mean SFF change in the first year was almost a sixth and thus less than one octave but nonetheless reached an SFF comparable with biological men.

Acoustic and Respiratory Measures as a Function of Age in the Male Voice

The purpose of this study was to extend understanding of the effects of aging on the male voice by obtaining and analyzing both acoustic and respiratory measures across the aging continuum. Aerodynamic measurements such as vital capacity (VC), maximum phonation time (MPT) and the acoustic measurement Speaking Fundamental Frequency (SFF) are used commonly in Speech-language Pathology to aid in the assessment and treatment outcomes of vocal dysfunction. However, current research lacks analysis of the interaction across these parameters within males. This study examined the changes of these parameters and interactions in males across various age groups. Acoustic measures of SFF, MPT, and VC were obtained in age groups of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69, N=35. Age and SFF were found to be statistically significant. No other statistically significant interactions were observed.

性同一性障害Female to Male症例の男性ホルモン投与による話声位基本周波数の継時的変化

性同一性障害Female to Male症例の男性ホルモン投与による話声位基本周波数の継時的変化

Direct and Octave-Shifted Pitch Matching During Nonword Imitations in Men, Women, and Children

To evaluate whether children, women, and men match the speaker's fundamental frequency (F0) during nonword imitation directly when the target F0 is within the responders' vocal ranges and at octave-shifted levels when the target is outside their vocal ranges, and to evaluate the role of a history of speech sound disorder (SSD) in the adult participants. Observational. Nonword sets spoken by a man and a woman were imitated by 14 men, 21 women, and 19 children. Approximately half of the adults and two-thirds of the children had a history of SSD. F0 in the imitations was compared with that in the targets and in the participants' nonimitated control word productions. When the target F0 was within the responders' vocal ranges, the imitations approximated the target F0. Men imitating a woman's voice approximated F0 levels one octave below the target F0. Children imitating a man's voice approximated F0 levels one octave above the target F0. Women imitating a man's voice approximated the target F0 at a ratio of 1.5 known as the perfect fifth in music. A history of SSD did not influence the results. This study replicates previous findings showing that target F0 was a salient aspect of the stimuli that was imitated along with the targets' segmental and prosodic components without explicit prompting. It is the first to show F0 convergence not only directly but also at relevant target/imitation intervals including the octave interval.