Análisis cepstral de la voz normal y patológica en adultos españoles. Medida de la prominencia del pico cepstral suavizado en vocales sostenidas versus habla conectada / Cepstral analysis of normal and pathological voice in Spanish adults. Smoothed cepstral peak prominence in sustained vowels versus connected speech

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: En los últimos años se ha incrementado el uso de medidas cepstrales para la evaluación acústica de la voz. Uno de los parámetros más investigados es la prominencia del pico cepstral suavizado (CPPs). Los objetivos de este trabajo son conocer la utilidad de esta medida acústica en la evaluación objetiva de las alteraciones de la voz en español y determinar qué tipo de muestra de voz (vocales sostenidas o habla conectada) es la más sensible para evaluar la severidad de la disfonía. MÉTODO: En este estudio participaron 40 sujetos, 20 normofónicos y 20 con disfonía. Se grabaron 2 muestras de voz para cada sujeto (una/a/sostenida y 4 frases fonéticamente balanceadas) y se calculó la CPPs con el programa Praat. Tres expertos valoraron perceptivamente la voz de la muestra con el parámetro grado de la escala GRABS. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron valores significativamente menores en las voces disfónicas, tanto para la/a/(t[38] = 4,85, p < 0,000) como para las frases (t[38] = 5,75, p < 0,000). En relación con el tipo de muestra de voz más indicado para evaluar la severidad de las alteraciones de la voz se encontró una fuerte correlación con la escala acústico-perceptiva de la CPPs calculada a partir del habla conectada (rs = -0,73) y moderada con la calculada a partir de la vocal sostenida (rs= -0,56). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de este estudio preliminar apuntan a que la CPPs es una buena medida para detectar la disfonía y para evaluar objetivamente el grado de severidad de las alteraciones en la voz

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the use of cepstral measures for acoustic evaluation of voice has increased. One of the most investigated parameters is smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPs). The objectives of this paper are to establish the usefulness of this acoustic measure in the objective evaluation of alterations of the voice in Spanish and to determine what type of voice sample (sustained vowels or connected speech) is the most sensitive in evaluating the severity of dysphonia. METHOD: Forty subjects participated in this study 40, 20 controls and 20 with dysphonia. Two voice samples were recorded for each subject (one sustained vowel/a/and four phonetically balanced sentences) and the CPPs was calculated using the Praat programme. Three raters perceptually evaluated the voice sample with the Grade parameter of GRABS scale. RESULTS: Significantly lower values were found in the dysphonic voices, both for/a/(t[38] = 4.85, P < .000) and for phrases (t[38] = 5,75, P < .000). In relation to the type of voice sample most suitable for evaluating the severity of voice alterations, a strong correlation was found with the acoustic-perceptual scale of CPPs calculated from connected speech (rs = -0.73) and moderate correlation with that calculated from the sustained vowel (rs = -0,56). CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that CPPs is a good measure to detect dysphonia and to objectively assess the severity of alterations in the voice

Validation of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index Version 03.01 and the Acoustic Breathiness Index in the Spanish language.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate the Acoustic Voice Quality Index 03.01 (AVQIv3) and the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) in the Spanish language. METHOD: Concatenated voice samples of continuous speech (cs) and sustained vowel (sv) from 136 subjects with dysphonia and 47 vocally healthy subjects were perceptually judged for overall voice quality and breathiness severity. First, to reach a higher level of ecological validity, the proportions of cs and sv were equalized regarding the time length of 3 seconds sv part and voiced cs part, respectively. Second, concurrent validity and diagnostic accuracy were verified. RESULTS: A moderate reliability of overall voice quality and breathiness severity from 5 experts was used. It was found that 33 syllables as standardization of the cs part, which represents 3 seconds of voiced cs, allows the equalization of both speech tasks. A strong correlation was revealed between AVQIv3 and overall voice quality and ABI and perceived breathiness severity. Additionally, the best diagnostic outcome was identified at a threshold of 2.28 and 3.40 for AVQIv3 and ABI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The AVQIv3 and ABI showed in the Spanish language valid and robust results to quantify abnormal voice qualities regarding overall voice quality and breathiness severity.

Cepstral analysis of normal and pathological voice in Spanish adults. Smoothed cepstral peak prominence in sustained vowels versus connected speech. / Análisis cepstral de la voz normal y patológica en adultos españoles. Medida de la prominencia del pico cepstral suavizado en vocales sostenidas versus habla conectada.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the use of cepstral measures for acoustic evaluation of voice has increased. One of the most investigated parameters is smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPs). The objectives of this paper are to establish the usefulness of this acoustic measure in the objective evaluation of alterations of the voice in Spanish and to determine what type of voice sample (sustained vowels or connected speech) is the most sensitive in evaluating the severity of dysphonia. METHOD: Forty subjects participated in this study 40, 20 controls and 20 with dysphonia. Two voice samples were recorded for each subject (one sustained vowel/a/and four phonetically balanced sentences) and the CPPs was calculated using the Praat programme. Three raters perceptually evaluated the voice sample with the Grade parameter of GRABS scale. RESULTS: Significantly lower values were found in the dysphonic voices, both for/a/(t[38]= 4.85, P<.000) and for phrases (t[38] = 5,75, P<.000). In relation to the type of voice sample most suitable for evaluating the severity of voice alterations, a strong correlation was found with the acoustic-perceptual scale of CPPs calculated from connected speech (rs = -0.73) and moderate correlation with that calculated from the sustained vowel (rs = -0,56). CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that CPPs is a good measure to detect dysphonia and to objectively assess the severity of alterations in the voice.