Vocal Aerodynamics Research Articles

男女发声的空气动力学差异研究

男女发声的空气动力学差异研究

The Vocal Aerodynamic Change in Female Patients With Muscular Tension Dysphonia After Voice Training

To investigate the changes of vocal aerodynamics indicators after voice training in female patients with muscular tension dysphonia (MTD). Twenty-one female MTD patients (before voice training and 12 weeks after voice training) and 20 female volunteers with normal voices (the control group) received vocal aerodynamic analysis. Parameters included subglottal pressure (SGP), aerodynamic power (AP), mean expiratory airflow (MEA), and maximum phonation time (MPT) were recorded and analyzed by phonatory aerodynamic system. Before voice training, the median SGP and mean AP were higher than control group, whereas median MPT was shorter, and these differences were statistically significant. After 12 weeks of voice training, the median SGP and mean AP were decreased and the median MPT was increased compared with the measurements obtained before training, and these differences were statistically significant. The differences of median SGP, mean AP, mean MEA, and median MPT between MTD after 12 weeks of training and control group were not statistically significant. Voice training is an effective treatment for MTD patients. Aerodynamic analysis can effectively evaluate the vocal functional status of MTD patients before and after training, which is beneficial for the treatment efficacy evaluation.

Do body mass index and fat volume influence vocal quality, phonatory range, and aerodynamics in females?

To analyze the impact of body weight and body fat volume on selected parameters of vocal quality, phonatory range, and aerodynamics in females. Based on measurements of body mass index in combination with body fat volume, 29 normophonic female subjects were classified as normal weight, underweight, and obese. Voice quality was investigated via auditory-perceptual ratings of breathiness, roughness, and overall dysphonia severity, via various acoustic measures and a multiparametric index. Phonatory range performance was examined using selected measures of the voice range profile and speech range profile. Measures of vocally relevant aerodynamics included vital capacity (i.e., VC), expected VC, phonation quotient, and maximum phonation time (i.e., MPT). Significant differences between the three weight groups were found across several measures of intensity, VC, MPT, and shimmer. As compared to the other groups, significantly higher values of maximum and minimum intensity levels, as well as sound pressure level during habitual running speech were observed for the obese group (all p-values<0.05); whereas, the underweight group had significantly lower values for VC and ratio of expected to measured VC (p-values<0.01). Furthermore, underweight subjects differed significantly as compared to normal weight subjects with lower MPT (p=0.025) and higher lowest-F0 (p=0.035). Finally the obese group showed significantly lower shimmer values than the normal weight subjects (p<0.05). Body weight and body fat volume appear to influence select objective measures of voice quality, vocal aerodynamics, and phonatory range performance.

Aerodynamic Changes as a Result of Vocal Function Exercises in Elderly Men

Voice therapy can improve the vocal quality of elderly patients with voice problems, but the changes in vocal aerodynamics associated with physiologic voice therapy are not well documented. The purpose of the present study was to determine the changes in vocal aerodynamics as a result of the management program known as Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs). Pre- and post-treatment differences in VFE maximum phonation times (MPT) and measures of vocal aerodynamics were analyzed. There were 19 participants, aged 60 to 78 years, who performed VFEs twice a day for 12 weeks. Aerodynamic measures of glottal airflow and subglottic pressure were collected at comfortable, high, and low pitches both before the initiation of the exercise program and again at its conclusion. MPT data were collected weekly. The participants showed continuous improvement in VFE MPT across the 12 weeks. Significant differences occurred from pre- to post-therapy on some measures of vocal aerodynamics relating to glottic closure. Decrease in glottic airflow was achieved, with a concomitant increase in subglottic pressure, but without an increase in acoustic power (comfortable and low pitch). Improvement in VFE MPT mirrored the improvement in vocal aerodynamics.

Phonation Threshold Flow in Elongated Excised Larynges

This study proposes the use of a new parameter of vocal aerodynamics, phonation threshold flow (PTF). The sensitivities of the PTF and the phonation threshold pressure (PTP) were quantitatively compared to the percent of vocal fold elongation from physiologic length. Ten excised canine larynges were mounted on a bench apparatus capable of controlling vocal fold elongation. Subglottal airflow was gradually increased until the onset of phonation. Elongation of the vocal folds was varied from +0% (physiologic length) to +15%, and the PTF and PTP were measured. The mean PTFs at physiologic vocal fold length ranged from 101 to 217 mL/s. No statistically significant relationship was found to exist between the size of the larynx and the measured PTF values (p = .404). The average percent change of PTF compared to the magnitude of elongation was found to be statistically significant (p < .001). The data indicated that the PTF was proportional to the percent of vocal fold elongation. The PTF was positively correlated with vocal fold elongation and the PTP for small magnitudes of elongation. The results suggest that the PTF may be indicative of the biomechanical properties of the vocal folds, thus providing a possibly valuable tool in the clinical evaluation of laryngeal function.

Pulmonary Function and Vocal Aerodynamics of Female Professional Sopranos and Nonsingers

PURPOSE: Singing requires exquisite coordination between the respiratory and phonatory system to efficiently control glottal airflow. Our study determines both pulmonary function and vocal aerodynamics in classically trained professional singers and compares the data obtained from singers with normal female subjects who had had no professional vocal training.

Voice research: So What? A clearer view of voice production, 25 years of progress; the speaking voice

The past 25 years has yielded an impressive growth in our knowledge of vocal function. Interdisciplinary research cooperation in areas of laryngeal histology, vocal aerodynamics and acoustics, vocal fold vibratory characteristics, neurolaryngology, and phonatory models has led to a clearer view of voice production. This article offers a brief review of the progress that has been made in our understanding of the speaking voice and relates this knowledge to clinical practice. The importance of utilizing voice research to confirm traditional management techniques and to develop new physiologically based management approaches is also stressed.