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BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, studies on the relationship between spectral energy distribution and the degree of perceived twang-like voices are still sparse. Through an auditory-perceptual test we aimed to explore the spectral features that may relate with the auditory-perception of twang-like voices. METHODS: Ten judges who were blind to the test's tasks and stimuli rated the amount of twang perceived on seventy-six audio samples. The stimuli consisted of twenty voices recorded from eight CCM singers who sustained the vowel [a:] in different pitches, with and without a twang-like voice. Also, forty filtered and sixteen synthesized-manipulated stimuli were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the intra-rater reliability scores, four judges were identified as suitable to be included in the analyses. Results showed that the frequency of F1 and F2 correlated strongly with the auditory-perception of twang-like voices (0.90 and 0.74, respectively), whereas F3 showed a moderate negative correlation (-0.52). The frequency difference between F1 and F3 showed a strong negative correlation (-0.82). The mean energy between 1-2 kHz and 2-3 kHz correlated moderately (0.51 and 0.42, respectively). The frequency of F4 and F5, and the energy above 3 kHz showed weak correlations. Since the spectral changes under 2 kHz have been associated with the jaw, lips, and tongue adjustments (i.e. vowel articulation) and a higher vertical laryngeal position might affect the frequency of all formants (including F1 and F2), our results suggest that vowel articulation and the laryngeal height may be relevant when performing twang-like voices.
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PURPOSE: The present study aimed at assessing the efficacy of remote voice therapy (telepractice) implemented with Shaker Medic Plus device in subjects with vocal fatigue. METHOD: Thirty-six participants were initially enrolled in this study. Twenty-four participants with vocal fatigue were finally randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (a) voice treatment with Shaker Medic Plus device plus vocal hygiene program (n = 12) and (b) voice treatment with water resistance therapy (WRT) plus vocal hygiene program (n = 12). Laryngoscopic assessment was conducted on all subjects. Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent (a) self-assessment of voice: Vocal Fatigue Index and Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale and (b) instrumental assessment with aerodynamic, acoustic, and electroglottographic measures. The treatment period included six voice therapy sessions within 6 weeks. Each session lasted 30 min. For both groups, exercises consisted of a sequence of nine phonatory tasks performed with Shaker Medic Plus (experimental group) and WRT (control group). Comparisons for all variables were performed between the experimental group and control group. RESULTS: Significant improvements were found for self-reported variables when comparing pre- and postmeasures for both groups. No significant differences were found when comparing groups. No significant main effects or interactions were observed for any of the observed instrumental variables. CONCLUSIONS: Remote physiologic voice therapy with Shaker Medic Plus device and water resistance therapy seem to be both effective to improve voice in subjects diagnosed with vocal fatigue. No differences should be expected between these therapeutic protocols when treating patients with vocal fatigue. Moreover, both are effective at reducing tiredness of voice, voice avoidance, physical discomfort associated with voicing, subjective perception of sensory discomfort in throat, and reduction of physical, emotional, and functional impact of voice problems.
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Distúrbios da Voz , Voz , Humanos , Qualidade da Voz , Distúrbios da Voz/diagnóstico , Fonação , Treinamento da Voz , ÁguaRESUMO
This paper addresses the grammatical challenges associated with the development of clause complexity, focusing on the performance of a group of monolingual Spanish-speaking schoolchildren with Specific Language Impairment/Developmental Language Disorder (SLI/DLD) in a longitudinal corpus of oral narrative samples. The study examines the presence of interclause relations of subordination and equivalence (hypotaxis and parataxis) in language samples of two groups: an experimental group made up of 24 schoolchildren with SLI/DLD and a control group made up of 24 schoolchildren with typical development (TD). The results show that while both groups use parataxis as the most common relation between clauses in all school grades, there is a significant decrease in paratactic relations and a significant increase in hypotactic relations from first to fourth grade of primary education. Although the development patterns are highly similar, the SLI/DLD group shows greater difficulties in mastering more complex (hypotactic) relations in fourth grade compared to the control group, indicating that it is less sophisticated in the use of these types of complex relations. These findings suggest that focused support on the most complex structures is needed towards the fourth grade of primary education, given the demands of the school academic register from 6 and 7 years of age and the potential problems that the development of clause complexity can cause in school-age children.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Adulto Jovem , Articulação Temporomandibular/fisiologia , Fonoaudiologia , Mastigação/fisiologia , ChileRESUMO
Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of vocal function exercises (VFEs) on the physiologic range of the operatic voice. The primary outcome measure was total voice range profile (VRP) area. Method Forty graduate-level opera majors were randomly assigned to experimental (training with VFE + vocal hygiene) and control (vocal hygiene only) groups. All participants underwent an acoustic voice assessment (modified VRP) pre and post 10 weeks of the assigned intervention. VRP total area was calculated and compared between and within the two groups. The total VRP area was subsequently divided into three area thirds (low, medium, and high). Results A significant improvement (increase) was observed in the VFE group for the primary outcome measure of VRP area when pre- and postvoice conditions were compared for total area, upper third, and middle third. No significant improvement was found in the vocal hygiene-only group. Conclusion Vocal training with VFEs over a 10-week period demonstrated positive effects on physiologic voice range as evidenced by an increase in the total VRP area and therefore may enhance the potential of those who already have professional voice training.
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Canto , Treinamento da Voz , Terapia por Exercício , Humanos , Estudantes , Qualidade da VozRESUMO
This study was conducted to explore the neuropsychological abilities of premature Chilean children. Two groups (Premature and Control, 10 children each, age ranging from 5 to 7.11) were established based on weeks of gestation and/or weight at birth. Relevant variables such as age, gender, schooling, and socioeconomic level were matched considering Chile's particular demographic context. Children were assessed by means of the Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI-2) battery, measuring nine cognitive domains encompassing 23 subscales. In turn, subscales are grouped in two scales: Cognitive Functions and Executive Functions. Since the ENI-2 battery provides norms for Spanish-speaking children, obtained data were inspected both for possible between-group differences and either adjustment or deviance from average range. Results show that premature children perform within typical ranges in all subscales except for Visual attention and Graphic fluency. When comparing both groups, some differences emerged. These differences are most prominent in subscales related to visuoperceptual skills. Interestingly, between-group linguistic performance is very similar. The point is made that early linguistic interventions conducted on premature children seem to positively impact on oral language expression and comprehension. On the contrary, early interventions focused on visuospatial abilities did not seem to attain the same impact. This may be a consequence of visual-information processing problems derived from cortical dorsal stream's vulnerability, which literature correlates with prematurity.
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Função Executiva/fisiologia , Lactente Extremamente Prematuro/fisiologia , Desenvolvimento da Linguagem , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Percepção Espacial/fisiologia , Percepção Visual/fisiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Chile , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , MasculinoRESUMO
El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir el desempeño en decodificación y en comprensión lectora de escolares con Trastorno Específico del Lenguaje (TEL). Para ello, se trabajó con 58 niños de 2do básico, distribuidos en dos grupos: uno de 29 escolares con Trastorno Específico del Lenguaje (TEL) y otro de 29 escolares con desarrollo típico (DT). Las habilidades evaluadas fueron decodificación y comprensión lectora. Los resultados generales mostraron que el grupo con TEL presentó un menor desempeño que los niños con DT en ambas habilidades lectoras. Los menores con TEL tendieron a mostrar un mejor rendimiento en decodificación que en comprensión lectora. Respecto a la decodificación, los resultados mostraron que los niños con TEL lograban decodificar palabras comunes y trisilábicas. En cuanto a comprensión lectora, comprendían frases, oraciones y textos. Sin embargo, en el nivel del texto evidenciaron dificultades para responder las preguntas inferenciales y en el reconocimiento de la idea central.
This study was conducted to describe the reading performance of schoolers with Specific Language Impairment (SLI), observing their decoding skills and reading comprehension. A sample of 58 children of a second-grade primary school was studied, evenly grouped in two conditions: SLI and TLD (Typical Language Development). General results show that children with SLI perform lower than children with TLD on decoding and reading comprehension. Results for decoding skills showed that SLI children were able to decode trisyllabic words and common words. As for reading comprehension abilities, children were able to understand phrases, complete sentences, and give a proper title to the texts they read.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Leitura , Linguagem Infantil , Compreensão/fisiologia , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento da Linguagem/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: The present study reports the effects of double source of vibration semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTEs) on subjective and objective variables in subjects with voice complaints. METHODS: Eighty-four participants with voice complaints were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) water resistance therapy, (2) tongue trills, (3) lip trills, and (4) raspberry (tongue and lip trills at the same time). Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent aerodynamic, electroglottographic, and acoustic assessments. Measures for the Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS), self-assessment of resonant voice quality, and sensation of muscle relaxation were also obtained. Three assessment sessions were conducted: (1) before the therapy session (Pre), (2) immediately after the voice therapy session (Post 1), and (3) 1 week after home practice (Post 2). RESULTS: Significant differences between baseline (Pre) and both post measures were found for the perception of muscle relaxation and resonant voice quality. No significant differences between Post 1 and Post 2 for any exercises were observed. This indicates that all voice exercises improved subjective self-perceived voice quality immediately after exercises and that improvement remained stable after 1 week of practice. Water resistance therapy and raspberry attained the highest effect. A significant decrease for all exercises was also observed for VTDS values after 1 week of practice. Although some significant changes were observed in objective variables, no clear patterns could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: SOVTEs with secondary source of vibration may reduce vocal symptoms related to physical discomfort in subjects with voice complaints. Objective variables apparently do not fully reflect subjective positive outcomes, or they are not sensitive enough to capture changes. No significant differences between four observed SOVTEs were observed.
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Glote/fisiopatologia , Fonação , Acústica da Fala , Distúrbios da Voz/terapia , Qualidade da Voz , Treinamento da Voz , Adulto , Chile , Feminino , Humanos , Lábio , Masculino , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Autoimagem , Percepção da Fala , Fatores de Tempo , Língua , Resultado do Tratamento , Vibração , Distúrbios da Voz/diagnóstico , Distúrbios da Voz/fisiopatologia , Distúrbios da Voz/psicologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to observe whether physiological warm-up and traditional singing warm-up differently affect aerodynamic, electroglottographic, acoustic, and self-perceived parameters of voice in Contemporary Commercial Music singers. METHODS: Thirty subjects were asked to perform a 15-minute session of vocal warm-up. They were randomly assigned to one of two types of vocal warm-up: physiological (based on semi-occluded exercises) or traditional (singing warm-up based on open vowel [a:]). Aerodynamic, electroglottographic, acoustic, and self-perceived voice quality assessments were carried out before (pre) and after (post) warm-up. RESULTS: No significant differences were found when comparing both types of vocal warm-up methods, either in subjective or in objective measures. Furthermore, the main positive effect observed in both groups when comparing pre and post conditions was a better self-reported quality of voice. Additionally, significant differences were observed for sound pressure level (decrease), glottal airflow (increase), and aerodynamic efficiency (decrease) in the traditional warm-up group. CONCLUSION: Both traditional and physiological warm-ups produce favorable voice sensations. Moreover, there are no evident differences in aerodynamic and electroglottographic variables when comparing both types of vocal warm-ups. Some changes after traditional warm-up (decreased intensity, increased airflow, and decreased aerodynamic efficiency) could imply an early stage of vocal fatigue.
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Glote/fisiologia , Ocupações , Fonação , Canto , Qualidade da Voz , Treinamento da Voz , Acústica , Adulto , Percepção Auditiva , Eletrodiagnóstico , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Autoimagem , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study examined grammaticality and complexity of sentences in monolingual Spanish-speaking children with specific language impairment (SLI). A group of SLI children (n = 13), mean age 6, was compared to a control group (CCG) matched by age (n = 11), and a younger control group (LCG) with similar linguistic development (n = 13). Grammaticality and complexity of sentences were analysed including identification and counting of: a) simple and complex sentences, b) grammatical and ungrammatical sentences, and c) types of grammatical errors. SLI children were found to be more ungrammatical than CCG in both simple and complex sentences. Considering the number of errors in all sentences produced, SLI children commit more errors than both control groups. Complexity of sentences did not show statistical differences among groups. Future research should explore in further detail the types of errors made by monolingual Spanish-speaking SLI children.