RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the acoustic features of voice in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN: Thirty male patients, between 35 and 53 years of age with postlingual bilateral symmetric severe sensorineural hearing loss, were included (group A). As a control group (group B), 30 normal-hearing male adults, aged 38 to 51 years, were identified. SETTING: ENT Department, University of Genoa (Italy). METHODS: Phonetically balanced sentences and sustained vowels a, e, and i were digitally recorded with the Multidimensional Voice Program (Kay Elemetrics) in all subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The parameters estimated were the average of fundamental frequency (F0), jitter percent (jitter), shimmer, noise to harmonics ratio (NHR), voice turbulence index (VTI), soft phonation index (SPI), degree of voicelessness (DUV), degree of voice breaks (DVB), and peak amplitude variation (vAm). RESULTS: Compared to the control group, in group A, the following acoustic parameters presented a statistically significantly higher value (p < .05) of F0 (137.2 Hz vs 120.0 Hz), jitter (1.93% vs 0.67%), shimmer (6.67% vs 3.81%), NHR (0.19 vs 0.10), SPI (12.9 vs 8.76), DVB (2.12% vs 0.01%), DUV (9.53% vs 0.51%), and vAm (23.12 % vs 12.06%). In group A, F0 was also significantly higher in the balanced sentences (126 Hz vs 111 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that hearing loss affects voice production by changing its parameters, especially in subjects with marked hearing loss.
Assuntos
Perda Auditiva Bilateral/fisiopatologia , Perda Auditiva Neurossensorial/fisiopatologia , Fonação , Acústica da Fala , Qualidade da Voz , Voz/fisiologia , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
The goals of a post-stroke rehabilitation plan are very specific to each patient. The side of the body affected by hemiplegia can influence the rehabilitation plan, as people with right-sided hemiplegia may also have difficulties with speech and language (aphasia). Because of the aphasia, drawing may remain a crucial instrument of creative expression and the clinical case presented highlights how this goal may also be successfully achieved in the elderly by using the left hand.
