• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare professional (Pro) and non-professional (Non-pro) voice users with voice disorders in self-reporting voice evaluation using Korean-Voice Handicap Index (K-VHI) and Korean-Voice Related Quality of Life (K-VRQOL). In addition, those were compared by voice quality and voice disorder type. 94 Pro and 106 Non-pro were asked to fill out the K-VHI and K-VRQOL, perceptually evaluated on GRBAS scales, and divided into three types of voice disorders (functional, organic and neurologic) by an experienced speech-language pathologist and an otolaryngologist. The results showed that the functional (F) and physical (P) scores of K-VHI in Pro group were significantly higher than those in Non-pro group. As the voice quality evaluated by G scale got worse, the scores of all aspects except emotional (E) of K-VHI and social-emotional (SE) of K-VRQOL were higher. All scores of K-VHI and K-VRQOL in neurologic voice disorders were significantly higher than those in functional and organic voice disorders. In conclusion, professional voice users are more sensitive to their functional and physical handicap resulted by their voice problems and that goes double for the patients with severe and neurologic voice disorders.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2004

This study attempted to provide a spectrum analysis for quantitative evaluation of singing voice quality of singing students rather than the presence or absence of the singer's formant. The regression analysis was used to analyse the relationship between ringing quality, SPR, and SPP of singing voice of college student subjects majoring in music. This study measured singing. power ratio (SPR) in 41 singing students. Digital audio recordings were made in sung vowels for acoustic analyses. Each sample was judged by 1 experienced singing teacher and 4 voice pathologists on one semantic bipolar 7-point scales (ringing-dull). The results showed that the SPR and SPP had significant correlations with ringing quality. The SPR had a significant relationship with ringing quality on singing voice in singing students. The SPR can be an important quantitative measurement for evaluating singing voice quality.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2018

This paper describes procedures of changing and measuring voice quality in terms of jitter. Jitter synthesis method was applied to the TD-PSOLA analysis system of the Praat software. The jitter component is synthesized based on a Gaussian random noise model. The TD-PSOLA re-synthesize process is used to synthesize the modified voice with artificial jitter. Various vocal jitter parameters are used to measure the change in quality caused by artificial systematic jitter change. Synthetic vowels, natural vowels and short sentences are used to check the change in voice quality through the synthesizer model. The results shows that the suggested method is useful for voice quality control in a limited way and can be used to alter the jitter component of voice.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2014

In this paper voice quality of normal speech is qualitatively classified by five components of breathy, creaky, rough, nasal, and thin/thick voice. To determine whether a correlation exists between a subjective measure of voice and an objective measure of voice, each voice is perceptually evaluated using the 1/2/3 scale by speech processing specialists and acoustically analyzed using speech analysis tools such as the Praat, MDVP, and VoiceSauce. The speech parameters include features related to speech source and vocal tract filter. Statistical analysis uses a two-independent-samples non-parametric test. Experimental results show that statistical analysis identified a significant correlation between the speech feature parameters and the components of voice quality.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.111-125
• /
• 2007

It is important to examine patients' subjective evaluation as well as objective measures and clinician's rating to assess voice disorders. This study aimed to evaluate validity and reliability of Korean-version of Voice Handicap Index (KVHI) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (KVQOL) with 113 adults with voice disorders and 111 normal adults. Content validity was verified by three experienced speech-language pathologists. Concurrent validity was revealed by examining the correlation among KVHI, KVQOL, and Voice Rating Scale as well as item discrimination coefficients. Total scores of KVHI and KVQOL of adults with voice disorders were significantly different from those of normal adults. Test-retest reliability and internal consistencies were significantly high in both KVHI and KVQOL. Correlations among scores of each subscale and total score were also significantly high in each tool. The study revealed that KVHI and KVQOL are suitable tools to be used in clinics and research areas in Korea, which can subjectively evaluate the effects of voice disorders on daily life as well as on quality of life.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.49-59
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate vocal hygiene habits and Korean Voice-Related Quality of Life (K-VRQOL) among classical singers. A total of 128 classical singers filled an online voice and K-VRQOL questionnaire, and the results were analyzed. In order to investigate the characteristics of K-VRQOL according to age groups, and the presence or absence of a history of voice problems, we conducted a two-way ANOVA. The results are as follows. Of the 128 classical singers, 28 (21.9%) with a history of voice problems said that excessive conversation, singing practice, and yelling were the causes of their voice problems. The symptoms of voice problems were fatigue, loss of range, hoarseness, and breathiness. In addition, classical singers were less likely to smoke, or to drink alcohol or caffeine. The K-VRQOL was highly correlated with all sub-domains. There was a statistically significant difference according to age groups (p<.05) and history of voice problems (p<.01). There was no correlation between age groups and history of voice problems. Voice management is important because classical singers can ruin their voice by speaking, and the risk of voice disorder is high. Voice problems affect quality of life. In future studies, it is necessary to obtain information on the subjective voice characteristics of classical singers by examining the relationship between their voice hygiene habits and VHI, SVHI, and K-VRQOL.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.159-163
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to conduct a correlational analysis among pitch, nasalance, and acoustic quality parameters estimated by two speech analysis softwares NasalView(version 1.31), Dr. Speech 4.5(Tiger Electronics). Thirty females and 25 males with normal voice participated in the study. The Pearson correlation coefficient was determined through a statistical analysis. The results came out as follows; Firstly, there was a correlation between $F_0$ and voice quality parameters, however there was no correlation between $F_0$ and nasalance. Secondly, nasalance showed a correlation with voice quality parameters.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
• /
• 2003.07a
• /
• pp.430-433
• /
• 2003

In this paper, we propose the method of voice packet transformation for the improvement of voice quality in embedded VoIP system terminals. For this purpose, it was analyzed about the RTP header in the voice packet receiving side and designed about the handling method of voice packets by using jitter buffer. Through this analyzed and designed results, by implementing the voice packet transformation method and testing on the self-product VoIP system, we reached that a conclusion is satisfied with performance of VoIP services.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2015

Voice complication without the laryngeal nerve injury can occur after thyroidectomy. The purpose of this study is to investigate voice changes according to extent of thyroidectomy with acoustic analysis. Thirty-five female patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma took voice evaluation at before and 1 month, and 3 months after thyroidectomy. Acoustic analysis parameters were speaking fundamental frequency(SFF), min $F_0$, max $F_0$, dynamic range $F_0$, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio(NHR), and Cepstral prominence peak(CPP). Repeated-measured analysis of variance was applied. Time-related voice changes showed significant differences in all parameters except NHR. At 1 month after surgery, voice quality was worse and pitch was decreasing, but voice quality and pitch were improving at 3-month follow-up. Voice changes according to the extent of surgery were in SFF, max $F_0$, and dynamic range $F_0$. Time by surgery-related voice change existed only in min $F_0$. The result showed that the severity of voice complication depended on the extend of thyroidectomy which had a negative impact on $F_0$-related parameters. The deterioration of voice quality at 1 month after thyroidectomy may be affected by the loss of thyroid hormone in the blood. The descent of $F_0$-related parameters may be impacted by laryngeal fixation of surgical site adhesion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2000

Background and Objectives : Quality of life(QOL) is a construct representing physical, mental and social well-being. QOL has been used as a device for measuring the severity of health-related condition and treatment outcomes. As the social welfare system develops, the attention to QOL increases as well. The aims of this study was to examine whether the patients with voice disorder perceived significantly more the effects of voice disorder on QOL than nonpatient group did and if any, identify the sociodemographic risk factors influencing QOL of patients. Materials and Methods : This study asked 113 adults with voice disorders who were enrolled in Voice Clinic in the Department of Otolaryngology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between lune 1998 and January 1999 and 111 nonpatients to complete a questionnaire designed to elicit information about the effete of voice disorders on quality of lift. The questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographic areas, voice symptoms, job, effects of voice disorders on QOL domains(work, social, psychological, physical, and communication areas), potential risk factors to exposures, familial and medical history of voice disorders. Results : The sociodemographic characteristics of the patient group are as follows : (1) 75.2% of total patient group were female and the rest were male. (2) Age of total patient group ranged from 20 to 65 years. Hoarseness was the most commonly reported complaints, followed by complaints of high note difficulties during singing and voice fatigue. The patient group perceived effects of voice disorders on the areas of work, social, psychological, physical and communication more adversely than the comparison group did (p＜0.05). QOL impairments were evaluated as a function of age, gender, education, and income, controlling other independent effects. The results were that (1) age was significantly associated with work problems and (2) gender and income were significantly associated with psychological problems. Conclusions : The findings indicated that the patients with voice disorders would perceive markedly adverse effect on all QOL domains, that is, work, social, psychological, physical, communicational areas. Therefore, the results of study suggest that lurker investigations about the nature of voice disorders, the prevention, treatment, and coping strategies are needed in the future.