Vocal impact of a prolonged reading task at two intensity levels : Perceptual analysis

Conference (2013, June 01)

Our goal is to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Fifty normophonic women underwent two sessions of voice loading in which the ... [more ▼]

Our goal is to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Fifty normophonic women underwent two sessions of voice loading in which the required intensity level of voice varied: 60-65 dB(A) for the first session, and 70-75 dB(A) for the second session. Objective measurements and subjective self-ratings were presented in a previous study (Remacle, Finck, Roche & Morsomme, 2012). Here are the results of perceptual analysis based on comparative judgments. Ten expert listeners evaluated the pressedness and the breathiness of one sentence recorded before and after each loading session. Pairs of stimuli were presented randomly to listeners who were asked to designate the most pressed sample at a first listening and the most breathy sample at a second listening. Each pair of stimuli was presented twice in order to evaluate the reliability. Results indicate that inter-judges and intra-judges reliability was poor to fair. Concerning the duration effect of vocal loading, results showed a significant decrease of breathiness but no change of pressedness after reading in both sessions. The decreased breathiness represents a voice improvement which could be interpreted as an adaptation of voice to loading. When comparing the two intensity levels, no difference was found for breathiness and pressedness after vocal loading. Similarly to objective measurements and self-ratings, perceptual assessments suggest that the duration of vocal loading has more effects on voice than its intensity level. [less ▲]

Vocal loading profiles of kindergarten and elementary school teachers

Conference (2013, April 24)

Purpose: Although a global picture exists of teachers’ voice demands in general, few studies have compared specific groups of teachers to determine whether some are more at risk than others to develop ... [more ▼]

Purpose: Although a global picture exists of teachers’ voice demands in general, few studies have compared specific groups of teachers to determine whether some are more at risk than others to develop vocal loading related dysphonia. This study compared vocal loading of kindergarten and elementary school teachers; professional and non-professional vocal load was determined for both groups. Method: Twelve kindergarten and twenty elementary school female teachers were monitored during one workweek using the Ambulatory Phonation Monitor, Model 3200 (KayPENTAX). Vocal loading parameters analyzed were phonation time, F0, SPL, distance dose and cycle dose. A total of 160 days (≈1513 hours) of collected data were analyzed. Results and conclusions: All the parameters were higher for kindergarten teachers than for elementary school teachers in both professional and non-professional environments, but the differences were significant only for the cycle dose and the distance dose (p < .05). The higher vocal load measured in kindergarten teachers suggests that they could be more at risk for developing voice disorders than elementary school teachers. Particular attention should be paid to this specific group of teachers working with young children. Concerning the comparisons between professional and non-professional voice use, significant differences were observed for all parameters (p < .0001), indicating that vocal load was higher in the professional environment for both groups. [less ▲]

Vocal Impact of a Prolonged Reading Task in Dysphonic versus Normophonic Female Teachers

in Journal of Voice (2012, November), 26(6), 8201-82013

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the impact on voice of a 2-hour reading task between 70-75 dB(A) in 16 normophonic and 16 dysphonic female teachers with vocal nodules. METHODS: Objective measurements ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the impact on voice of a 2-hour reading task between 70-75 dB(A) in 16 normophonic and 16 dysphonic female teachers with vocal nodules. METHODS: Objective measurements (acoustic analysis, voice range measurements, aerodynamic measurements) and subjective self-ratings were collected before the task and every 30 minutes during the reading to determine the voice evolution in both groups. RESULTS: Fundamental frequency, lowest frequency, highest frequency (F-High), highest intensity and intensity range increase through the reading, whereas Shimmer decreases. Maximum phonation time decreases after 30 minutes. Estimated subglottal pressure (ESP) and sound pressure level increase during the first hour. Afterwards, ESP decreases. Self-ratings worsen through time. When comparing the normophonic and the dysphonic teachers, self-ratings reveal more complaints in the dysphonic group. Few differences in objective measurements are found between both groups: normophonic teachers show lower ESP, higher F-High and greater frequency range. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency modifications from acoustic analysis and voice range measurements suggest an increased laryngeal tension during vocal load, while subjects perceive a worsening of voice. Aerodynamic parameters depict first a deterioration of voice efficiency and then an adaptation to the prolonged reading. The comparison between both groups shows a discrepancy between objective measurements and self-ratings, suggesting that both approaches are necessary to have a complete view of vocal load effects. Surprisingly, both groups behave similarly through vocal load, without more or quicker deterioration of voice in the dysphonic group. [less ▲]

Vocal Impact of a Prolonged Reading Task at Two Intensity Levels: Objective Measurements and Subjective Self-Ratings

in Journal of Voice (2012), 26(4), 177-186

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Voice modifications accompanying changes in ... [more ▼]

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Voice modifications accompanying changes in intensity level during prolonged reading tasks are analyzed. Methods: Fifty normophonic women undergo two sessions of voice loading in which the required intensity level of voice varied between 60–65 dB(A) for the first session and 70–75 dB(A) for the second session. The effects of loading on objective data (average fundamental frequency [F0], jitter%, shimmer%, noise-to-harmonic ratio, maximum phonation time, lowest frequency [F-Low], highest frequency [F-High], frequency range [Range], lowest intensity [I-Low] level, and highest intensity level) and self-ratings (voice quality, phonation effort, vocal fatigue, and laryngeal discomfort) are assessed every 30 minutes during the loading tasks. Results: Results indicate that average F0, F-Low, I-Low, maximum phonation time, feeling of phonation effort, vocal fatigue, and laryngeal discomfort increase during prolonged reading, whereas shimmer% and self-rating of voice quality decrease. Average F0, F-High, and Range are the only parameters influenced by the required intensity of vocal load; they are significantly higher in the 70- to 75-dB session compared with the 60- to 65-dB session. Concerning the subjective self-ratings, similar results for the four ratings used suggest that only one would suffice in future studies. Conclusions: These results confirm the importance of both duration and intensity level as loading factors, even if intensity level affects fewer variables than duration. [less ▲]

Structure cordale, phonotraumatisme et lésions cordales

Conference (2012, March)

Prevention of vocal folds' scars:microsurgical principles

Conference (2011, December)

La dosimétrie vocale : quantification de l’usage vocal chez des enseignants

Conference (2011, October 17)

La dosimétrie ou accumulation vocale permet d’objectiver le comportement vocal en situation écologique. Différents types d’accumulateurs vocaux existent actuellement sur le marché. Il s’agit d’appareils ... [more ▼]

La dosimétrie ou accumulation vocale permet d’objectiver le comportement vocal en situation écologique. Différents types d’accumulateurs vocaux existent actuellement sur le marché. Il s’agit d’appareils portables qui mesurent la durée de phonation, l’intensité et la fréquence fondamentale moyenne de la voix. Ces données sont extraites plusieurs fois par seconde à l’aide d’un accéléromètre fixé sur le larynx, et relié à un microprocesseur stockant les données recueillies tout au long de la journée. Les données sont ensuite téléchargées sur un ordinateur et analysées à l’aide d’un logiciel prévu à cet effet. Cette étude tente de quantifier la charge vocale au sein d’une population d’enseignants, reconnue comme étant des professionnels de la voix. L’accumulateur utilisé est l’Ambulatory Phonation Monitor, Model 3200 (KayPENTAX, Lincoln Park, NJ). La récolte de données durant 1 semaine de travail chez 23 enseignants nous a permis d’objectiver l’utilisation vocale propre à cette population. [less ▲]

Voice Impact of a Prolonged Reading Task at Two Intensity Levels: Subjective Self-Ratings

Poster (2011, September 01)

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading, using subjective self-ratings. Methods: Fifty ... [more ▼]

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading, using subjective self-ratings. Methods: Fifty normophonic women undergo two sessions of voice loading in which the required intensity level of voice varied: 60-65 dB(A) for the first session, and 70-75 dB(A) for the second session. Voice intensity level is constantly controlled with a Digital Sound Level Meter at a distance of 40cm from the mouth. Subjects’ voices are orally loaded by reading a novel of their choice for 2 hours in a quiet room (background level < 30dBA). The effects of loading are assessed with regard to self-ratings of voice obtained before and every 30 minutes during the loading tasks. The following parameters are evaluated using a 100-mm horizontal visual analogue scale: voice quality, phonation effort, vocal fatigue and laryngeal discomfort. A repeated-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA Duration X Intensity Level) where the subjects are used as their own controls is carried out to compare data obtained at different times of the reading sessions. Results and conclusion: There is a significant effect of the duration (p < 0.0001) for all the subjective self-ratings, but no differences between the two intensity levels of reading. Feeling of phonation effort, vocal fatigue and laryngeal discomfort significantly increase during prolonged reading, whereas self-rating of voice quality decrease. Subjects do not report more complaints in the 70-75 dB session than in the 60-65 dB one. To conclude, subjects’ self-ratings of voice significantly worsens throughout the reading task as a duration effect, but there is no intensity level effect. [less ▲]

The Vocal Impact of a Prolonged Reading Task at two Intensity Levels

Conference (2011, March 29)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Fifty normophonic women (mean age: 25.4 years) undergo two sessions ... [more ▼]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact on voice of both duration and intensity level of 2 hours of continuous oral reading. Fifty normophonic women (mean age: 25.4 years) undergo two sessions of voice loading in which the required intensity level of voice varied: 60-65 dB(A) for the first session, and 70-75 dB(A) for the second session. The results of loading are assessed with regard to objective data and self-rating of voice obtained every 30 minutes during the oral reading tasks. Serial voice quality objective data is obtained by use of Multi-Dimensional Voice program (Average fundamental frequency (AvF0), Jitter percent (Jitt), Shimmer percent (Shim), Noise-to-Harmonic Ratio (NHR)). Serial measurements of maximum phonation time (MPT) and voice range are carried out by use of Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab. The following characteristics are also categorized by the use of a 100 mm visual analogue scale every 30 minutes of the oral reading tasks: voice quality, feeling of phonation effort, vocal fatigue, and laryngeal discomfort. Results indicate that AvF0, lowest frequency of voice range, softest output of phonation, feeling of phonation effort, vocal fatigue and laryngeal discomfort rise during prolonged oral reading. On the contrary, Shim and self-rating of voice quality decrease significantly with the passage of time during the voice loading. Jitt and NHR tend to decrease. MPT decreases after the first 30 minutes but increases afterwards. AvF0 and highest frequency of voice range are the only parameters influenced by the required intensity of oral reading task: these values are significantly higher in the 70-75 dB session compared to the 60-65 dB session. [less ▲]

Pre- and postoperative laryngoscopic considerations

Scientific conference (2011, March)