ABSTRACT
The paper presents a method of measuring the vocal penetrating capacity under conditions of masking voice. The noise consists of a frequency mixture of vowels in combination with voiced and unvoiced consonants. The comprehensibility of the test matrix is measured with respect to the capacity of the voice to penetrate background noise. The results of the measurement, which are based on more than 1,000 patients, show a significant correlation between the vocal inset phase of the voice status and the patient's subjective assessment of his ability to increase loudness of the duration of vocal use and vocal well-being. This method is therefore suitable for vocal diagnostic purposes, for evaluating the success of therapy, and testing the aptitude for voice-related professions.
Subject(s)
Noise/adverse effects , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Voice Quality , Voice Training , Humans , Program Evaluation , Severity of Illness Index , Speech Therapy/methods , Voice Disorders/etiology , Voice Disorders/therapyABSTRACT
We treated 64 patients with the diagnosis of laryngitis gastrica with Antra (Omeprazol) in doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg. To determine the success of the therapy, pH monitoring of the esophagus and hypopharynx, the voice status and measurement of vocal penetrating capacity were used. The results prove that a 20-mg dose of Antra is suitable for the therapy of laryngitis gastrica with a high rate of success. Problems which arose during the investigation, consequent changes of the original concept of the project as well as new aspects and questions which resulted from this are discussed with respect to further investigation.
Subject(s)
Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage , Gastroesophageal Reflux/drug therapy , Laryngitis/drug therapy , Omeprazole/administration & dosage , Adult , Anti-Ulcer Agents/adverse effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Gastric Acidity Determination , Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications , Humans , Laryngitis/etiology , Laryngoscopy , Male , Middle Aged , Omeprazole/adverse effects , Pharyngitis/drug therapy , Pharyngitis/etiology , Treatment Outcome , Voice Quality/drug effectsABSTRACT
The clinical courses of vocal rehabilitation of patients with different degrees of laryngeal paralysis can proceed very differently, but usually do not correspond with the physical changes of glottic function seen on laryngoscopy and stroboscopy. In this study 43 patients with laryngeal paralyses were examined, of whom 28 had regeneration of nerve function. Fifteen did not show any improvement in glottal function. All patients were asked to describe their voices, after which subjective data were compared to objective findings concerning vocal penetrating capacity, voice attack, volume, and capacity. In particular, voice capacity, attack, and vocal penetrating capacity were found to be valid in reflecting therapeutic effects and for estimating voice capability.
Subject(s)
Vocal Cord Paralysis/rehabilitation , Voice Quality , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Laryngeal Nerve Injuries , Male , Middle Aged , Nerve Regeneration/physiology , Patient Satisfaction , Vocal Cord Paralysis/etiology , Vocal Cords/innervation , Voice TrainingABSTRACT
Monitoring of pH of the esophagus is a routine diagnostic procedure, whereas until now pH-monitoring of the hypopharynx has been used only for scientific research. In the present study a critical evaluation scale was used to record the results of 112 patients who underwent pH monitoring to determine possible reflux. Since high refluxes often remain unnoticed clinically, further study is required in certain cases. The extent of reflux in the esophagus may not represent pathological changes in the hypopharynx. In such cases 24-h pH monitoring of the hypopharynx can be a useful diagnostic procedure and may also help detect the pathogenesis of "gastric laryngitis".
Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnosis , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Hypopharynx/chemistry , Monitoring, Physiologic , Female , Gastroesophageal Reflux/metabolism , Humans , Hypopharynx/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Monitoring, Physiologic/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Increased reactions of the laryngeal mucosal membrane can appear after acetylcholine (ACH) inhalation. A red mucous membrane, vocal cord edema, mucus formation, changes in the glottic configuration and (rarely) subglottic edema are visible to laryngoscopic observations. The influence on various voice parameters in patients with and without laryngeal hyperreactivity was researched in order to decide the reliability of voice parameter measurements in clinical practice. Significant variations of the soft phonation index (SPI), the fundamental frequency variation (vFo), the noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR) and the voice turbulence index (VTI) were examined for their correlations with the observable features of laryngeal hyperreactivity. A single diagnosis of hyperreactivity with voice parameter analysis failed in 50% of the patients examined because of functional voice instability and irregularities seen. Only with both laryngoscopy for reliable discrimination and voice parameter analysis for quantitative registration were findings sufficient for assessing laryngeal hyperreactivity.
Subject(s)
Bronchial Hyperreactivity/diagnosis , Laryngismus/diagnosis , Sound Spectrography , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Acetylcholine , Administration, Inhalation , Bronchial Hyperreactivity/etiology , Bronchial Provocation Tests , Humans , Laryngeal Edema/diagnosis , Laryngeal Edema/etiology , Laryngismus/etiology , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted , Voice Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
By measuring the vocal penetration a characteristic feature of the efficiency is covered which is essential for all three parts of the communication chain of speech with special emphasis on the recipient. Results are expressed in decibel (AS) of a defined masking noise, at which 50% of the logatomes spoken by the test persons are recognized. The vocal efficiency is indicated by the sound pressure of the masking noise, subtracting the sound level of speech used. Individuals with a healthy voice lie within the range of 12-24 dB (AS), average value 20 dB(AS), patients affected with a vocal disorder lie within the range of 0-12 dB(AS), average value 9 dB(AS). The vocal penetration significantly correlates with the auditive features of the vocal swinging-in phase; it proves to be a sensitive indicator of treatment efficacy for dysphonia and a useful tool for predicting the vocal capacity in all voice professions.
Subject(s)
Speech Acoustics , Speech Production Measurement , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Voice Quality , Humans , Phonetics , Reference Values , Speech Intelligibility , Vocal Cord Paralysis/diagnosis , Voice Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
Language comprehension in vocal professions will depend greatly on the capacity of the voice to penetrate background noise at the place of work. For therapeutic as well as for measuring purposes we therefore use a maximal masking noise representing a frequency mixture of all vowels in combination with the voiced consonants m, n, and ng produced by 80 male and female voices. The method includes one tape recording of the actual patient's voice and two listening procedures. On the basis of extensive measurements, the conclusion can be drawn that the penetrating capacity of the voice must be considered as poor if it is below 22 dB, to be good if it is between 22 and 28 dB, and to be very good if it is above 28 dB. 450 patients and healthy test persons underwent this measurement.
Subject(s)
Speech Intelligibility , Voice , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Perceptual Masking , Speech Acoustics , Speech Production Measurement/methods , Tape RecordingSubject(s)
Noise , School Health Services , Child, Preschool , Germany, East , Humans , Schools, NurseryABSTRACT
Voice disorders due to hormonal contraceptives in twenty-six patients are reported. All patients are working in occupations with a strong use for their voices especially of the singing voice. The disorders are primarily caused by norsteroid containing preparations (Non-Ovlon). Therefore these preparations should not be applied for patients in voice professions. With regard to good prophylactic measures and an early diagnosis a regular joint gynaecological and phoniatric examination is recommended.
