• Speech Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.191-203
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• 2003

This study examined the effect of vocal loudness on nasalance measures, under the conditions of three sentence patterns (i.e., Oral sentences, Mixed sentences, Nasal sentences). The vocal loudness level was classified into soft voice (55 dB), medium voice (65 dB) and loud voice (75 dB). The participants in the present study were 30 normal adults (male: female =1:1). Kay's Nasometer 6200 was used to measure nasalance and Sound level meter was used to adjust the loudness level. The results of the present study are as follows. Firstly, the change in vocal loudness is in the following. In the Oral sentence stimuli, the loud voice for both male and female showed the highest nasalance degree, and the medium voice the lowest level. In the Mixed and Nasal sentence stimuli, however, male participants showed the highest degree of nasalance in the soft voice, and the lowest degree in the loud voice, and female showed the highest degree of nasalance in the soft voice and the lowest in the medium voice. Secondly, when each subject's nasalance scores were ranked in a ordered manner, noticeable tendency. Lowest nasalance score occurred in the loud voice and the highest nasalance score was recorded in the soft voice during participants' reading of the Nasal sentences. However, it was hard to find such pattern in the Oral sentences. It is assumed that velopharyngeal function could be related to these findings. Furthermore, the findings associated with vocal loudness may have diagnostic as well as clinical implications.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2002

This study was designed to examine the effects of vocal loudness on Nasalance scores in Korean vowels. One normal adult without 'hypemasality' produced 3 types of vowels (/i/, /a/, /u/) in 3 levels of loudness (60, 70, 80dB). Nasalance scores (%) and oral & nasal energy intensity (dB) were measured through NasalView system. These data were compared among 3 levels of loudness and among 3 types of vowels. The results were as follow: For all vowels, Nasalance scores significantly reduced when vocal loudness increased. Because the increases of oral energy intensity were larger than that of nasal energy intensity. For all levels of loudness, Nasalance scores significantly differed among vowel types (/i/>/a/>/u/).

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2007

This study examined the aerodynamic functions (mean airflow rate MFR, subglottal pressure Psub) and closed quotients (CQs) in the fixed pitch (C3, E3, G3, C4) with the variable loudness (70 and 80 dB) as well as in the fixed loudness at 70 dB and 80 dB with the variable pitch (C3, E3, G3, C4) in five classic male singers (Baritone). Results showed that MFR significantly increased at C3, E3, and G3 and Psub significantly increased at C4 when the loudness increased from 70 to 80 dB. At 70 dB, MFR and Psub significantly increased and CQ significantly decreased when the pitch increased from C3 to C4. At 80 dB, MFR significantly decreased when the pitch increased from C3 to G3. However, Psub showed the significant decrease with the pitch increased at 80 dB. In conclusion, as the loudness increases, the aerodynamic loss is getting higher and vocal efficiency becomes lower at low pitch than at higher pitch. At a low loudness level, the main mechanism to control loudness is the amount of medial compression of the vocal folds rather than the aerodynamic function. In addition, the aerodynamic function and medial compression of the vocal folds have a significant role in increasing the loudness level.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2013

The aerodynamic characteristics (subglottal pressure (Ps) and mean airflow rate (MFR)), fundamental frequency (Fo), intensity (I), vocal efficiency (VE), and closed quotient (CQ) were compared during a sustained vowel /o/ sound under three conditions: in a comfortable loudness and pitch level (condition 1), in a maximum loudness level with a fixed pitch (condition 2), and in a maximum loudness level without a fixed pitch (condition 3). Also, multiple regression analyses were done to measure the aerodynamic characteristics affect on the VE and the CQ in each condition. The results showed the Fo, Ps, MFR, VE, and CQ increased as I increased with and without fixed pitch. Most notably, VE in condition 3 was the highest of all the conditions, but CQ was not very high. By the results of multiple regression analysis, VE was significantly affected by I and Ps in all conditions; Fo was the other main key for affecting VE in high pitch. However, none of the aerodynamic characteristics significantly affected CQ. As I increases, Fo should be increased by increasing Ps and VE. Therefore, researchers should consider and specify an a priori to Fo, Ps, and I when measuring VE to examine the complex and delicate vocal mechanism.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2012

The purposes of this paper is to study the characteristics of compared to the speakers voice without depression and speakers with depression, and to propose a objective method for the measurement of the therapeutic effects as well as for diagnostics of depression based on the characteristics. The voice samples obtained from 11 female speakers with depression, aged from 20 to 40, diagnosed as having major depressive disorder by an psychiatrist were compared with those from 12 normal controls with matched sex, age, height, weight, education, smoking, and drinking. The voice samples are taken by a portable digital recorder(TASCAM DR-07, Japan) and analysed using the MDVP(Multi-Dimentional Voice Program) software module from CSL(Computerized Speech Lab, kay elemetrics, co, model 4100). The result of the investigation are as following. First, the average speaking fundamental frequency and loudness range of the speakers with depression group was statistically significantly lower than that of the control group. The pitch range of the control group was rather higher than that of the speakers with depression group, but without statistical significance. Overall speech rates have no statistical difference between two groups. Second, the average speaking fundamental frequency and loudness range have statistically significant negative correlation with Beck Depression Inventory, i. e. more severe depression exhibits lower average speaking fundamental frequency and loudness range. Other vocal parameters such as pitch range and overall speech rate have no statistically meaningful correlations with Beck Depression Inventory.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

This study examined whether speech acceptability was changed under various conditions of prosodic manipulations. Both speech rate and voice loudness reportedly are associated with acceptability and intelligibility. Speech samples by twelve speakers with mild dysarthria were recorded. Speech rate and loudness changes were made by digitally manipulating habitual sentences. 3 different loudness levels (70, 75, & 80dB) and 4 different speech rates (normal, 20% rapidly, 20% slowly, & 40% slowly) were presented to 12 SLPs (speech language pathologists). SLPs evaluated sentence acceptability by 7-point Likert scale. Repeated ANOVA were conducted to determine if the prosodic type of resynthesized cue resulted in a significant change in speech acceptability. A faster speech rate (20% rapidly) rather than habitual and slower rates (20%, 40% slowly) resulted in significant improvement in acceptability ratings (p <.001). An increased vocal loudness (up to 80dB) resulted in significant improvement in acceptability ratings (p <.05). Speech rate and loudness changes in the prosodic properties of speech may contribute to improved acceptability.

• Proceedings of The Korean Cleft Lip And Palate Association
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2003

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.21-24
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• 2008

The present study numerically investigates the glottal airflow characteristics as well as acoustic features of phonation fully coupled with dynamic behavior of vocal folds. The vocal folds are described by a low-dimensional body-covered model characterized by bio-mechanical parameters such as glottal width, vocal folds stiffness, and subglottal pressure. The flow in the vocal tract is modeled as an incompressible, axisymmetric form of the Navier-Stokes equations (INS), while the acoustic field is predicted by the linearized perturbed compressible equations (LPCE). The computed result shows that a two-mass model of vocal folds is sufficient to reproduce temporal variations in oral airflow and glottis motion produced by female speakers. It is also found that i) the glottal width has a significant effect on the amplitude of glottal flow, and thus on the amplitude of acoustic wave in the vocal tract, ii) the vocal fold tension is the main control parameter for the fundamental frequency of phonation, iii) the subglottal pressure plays an appreciable role on reproduction of the self-sustained oscillation of vocal folds, and iv) the strength of pulsating airflow and vortical structures are primarily affected by glottal width and subglottal pressure, and are closely related to pitch, loudness, and voice quality. Finally, more comprehensive explanation about the difference between one- and two-mass models is presented with discussion of effectiveness of vocal folds oscillation and voice quality.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

The present study examined the change of aerodynamic features after laryngomicrosurgery in patients with vocal polyps. Aerodynamic evaluation was performed in thirty-nine patients (15 males and 24 females) one week before surgery and four weeks after surgery. Evaluation protocols of vital capacity, maximum sustained phonation(MXPH), and voicing efficiency(VOFT) were used to collect 29 phonatory aerodynamic measures, requiring voice with a comfortable pitch and loudness. Statistically significant changes were found for phonation time and airflow values in the MXPH protocol, while changes were also found for airflow values, subglottal pressure values and acoustic resistance values in the VOFT protocol. Although phonation time was increased in both male and female patients, gender-dependent changes were found in airflow measurements. Men's phonation time increased with no difference in airflow rate, but women's phonation time increased with decreased airflow rate and lower subglottal pressure. The changes of aerodynamic features may be affected by women's self-perceived change for vocal attitude, which was reducing sense of vocal effort after surgery.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 1997

This study was attempted to analyze the acoustic characteristics of profoundly deaf students. The 59 profoundly hearing-impaired and 36 normal subjects were divided into 3 age groups: 6-10 yrs group, 11-15 yrs group, and 16-20 yrs group. The voice was sampled in /a/ prolongation, counting, reading, and conversation using the Computerized Speech ,Lab (CSL). The vocal pitch of the deaf subjects was significantly higher than the normal subjects. The younger in age was tended to be higher in pitch and jitter values of the deaf subjects. The three age groups of the deaf subjects did not show any difference in loudness and shimmer, excepted to minimum loudness. The pitch mean of males was significantly lower than that for females.