Métodos utilizados na análise morfométrica do trato vocal em cantores: revisão integrativa / Methods used in morphometric analysis of singers' vocal tracts: an integrative review

RESUMO Objetivo descrever os principais métodos quantitativos utilizados para análise morfométrica do trato vocal em cantores, suas aplicações e os principais segmentos estudados. Estratégia de pesquisa trata-se de uma revisão integrativa guiada pela pergunta condutora: "Quais os principais métodos quantitativos utilizados para análise morfométrica do trato vocal, suas aplicações e os principais segmentos estudados em cantores?". Foram utilizadas as bases eletrônicas PubMed, Scopus e BVS, por meio da chave de busca Vocal tract OR Oropharynx AND Morphology OR Geometry AND Evaluation OR Diagnosis AND voice, sem restrições de ano de publicação, sendo incluídos artigos em três idiomas: português, inglês e espanhol. Critérios de seleção: a seleção se deu de forma independente, por meio da leitura por pares e posterior aplicação dos critérios de exclusão e inclusão. Resultados dos 380 estudos, foram excluídos 30 duplicados. A partir da leitura dos resumos, aplicando-se os critérios de seleção, foram selecionados 18 estudos para leitura na íntegra, dos quais, 12 foram incluídos nesta revisão. A ressonância magnética foi o principal instrumento utilizado e os segmentos analisados incluíram desde o comprimento e volume do trato vocal, como segmentos isolados e suas particularidades morfológicas. Conclusão os métodos de quantificação morfológica do trato vocal integram instrumentos importantes para a avaliação instrumental do trato vocal e de seus segmentos, colaborando na atualização tecnológica em voz para melhor compreensão e intervenções fonoaudiológicas na voz cantada

ABSTRACT Purpose To describe the main quantitative methods used for morphometric analysis of the vocal tract in singers, their applications and the main segments studied. Research strategy This is an integrative review guided by the guiding question "What are the main quantitative methods used for morphometric analysis of the vocal tract, their applications and the main segments studied in singers?". The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and VHL were used through the search key (Vocal tract OR Oropharynx) AND (Morphology OR Geometry) AND (Evaluation OR Diagnosis) AND (voice), without restriction of years of publication, including articles in three languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish. Selection criteria The selection took place independently through reading by pairs and subsequent application of exclusion and inclusion criteria. Results Of the 380 studies, 30 duplicates were excluded. After reading the abstracts, applying the selection criteria, 18 studies were selected for full reading, of which 12 were included in this review. Magnetic resonance imaging was the main instrument used and the analyzed segments ranged from the length and volume of the vocal tract to isolated segments and their morphological particularities. Conclusion Vocal tract morphological quantification methods are important for the instrumental evaluation of the vocal tract and its segments, a technological update leading to better understanding of singers' voice and therapeutical intervention.

Relationship Between Oropharyngeal Geometry and Acoustic Parameters in Singers: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: To verify possible correlations between formant and cepstral parameters and oropharyngeal geometry in singers, stratified by sex. METHOD: Voice records and oropharyngeal measures of 31 singers - 13 females and 18 males, mean age of 28 (±5.0) years - were retrieved from a database and analyzed. The oropharyngeal geometry measures were collected with acoustic pharyngometry, and the voice records consisted of sustained vowel /Ԑ/ phonation, which were exported to Praat software and edited to obtain the formant and cepstral parameters, stratified by sex. The Pearson linear correlation test was applied to relate voice parameters to oropharyngeal geometry, at the 5% significance level; the linear regression test was used to justify the variable related to the second formant. RESULTS: Differences between the sexes were identified only in the oral cavity length (greater in males) and pharyngeal cavity length (greater in females). There was a linear correlation between the third formant and the cepstrum in the female group. In the male group, there was a linear correlation between the cepstrum and the third and fourth formants. A positive linear correlation with up to 95% confidence was also identified between the pharyngeal cavity volume and the second formant in the female group, making it possible to estimate a regression model for the second formant (R2 = 0.70). CONCLUSION: There are correlations between the oropharyngeal geometry and formant and cepstral parameters in relation to sex. The pharyngeal cavity volume showed the greatest correlation between females and the second formant.

Oropharyngeal Geometry of Maxilectomized Patients Rehabilitated with Palatal Obturators in the Trans-surgical Period: Repercussions on the Voice.

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing maxillectomies may present alterations in the stomatognathic functions involved in oral communication. Rehabilitative treatment should favor the rescue of these functions, through surgical flaps, obturator prostheses or both. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to present the impact of the use of the palatal obturator on the oropharyngeal geometry and on the voice of patients undergoing maxillectomies, after adaptation to trans-surgical palatine obturators (TPO). METHODS: Twelve patients treated at a Cancer Hospital, submitted to maxillectomy and rehabilitated during surgery were evaluated. The oropharyngeal geometry was measured by acoustic pharyngometry and the vocal parameters were evaluated through auditory-perceptual and acoustic analyses. The comparison between the results with and without TPO was analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and the correlation between oropharyngeal measurements and acoustic parameters using Spearman's correlation coefficient, all with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the following oropharyngeal measurements with the use of TPO: length of the pharyngeal cavity and vocal tract, volume of the oral cavity, pharyngeal and vocal tract and area of ​​the oropharyngeal junction. There was no difference in the length of the oral cavity and in the glottic area between situations with and without TPO. In the vocal evaluation, changes in intelligibility and resonance were observed in the situation without TPO and, in only one case, mild hypernasality was detected in the situation with TPO. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the use of TPO brought the oropharyngeal measurements closer to normal values ​​and provided an improvement in speech intelligibility and vocal resonance in maxilectomized individuals.