• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.128-132
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• 2010

Background and Objectives : This study was designed to examine the effect of nasal cavity surgery on voice in terms of nasalance by using subjective test, Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Nasometer and compare the pre op and post op results among patiets with nasal cavity disease. Materials and Method : From April 2009 to November 2009, data of thirty one patients who underwent nasal cavity surgery were prospectively evaluated. 24 males and 7 females with age range between 12 years to 80 years old (average 34 years old) were chosen. VAS was questioned to patients group before, after 1 week, after 1 month, and after 3 months from the surgery. Nasometer, was also conducted. Results: After the surgery symptoms like nasal obstruction, mouth breath, snoring, and sleep apnea were all improved. Improvements for nasal obstruction and mouth breath were observed statistically in post operative day (POD) 1 month and POD 3 months. Also snoring was improved statistically in POD 1 month. Objective nasalance test showed increases in a single and double vowel for POD 3 months. Only /je/ sound statistically-significant increased in all post operative periods. Nasalance increase were observed in other test results. Conclusion : All the symptoms are improved after nasal cavity surgery. Also there are some nasalance changes during whole period of study and return to the pre operative state in POD 3 months. Therefore, patients must be warned and understood about nasalance changes, and surgeons need to aware of various facts, which can affect voice changes before the surgery.

• 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.13 no.3
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• pp.49-65
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• 2006

Recently, several theories on the digital speech signal processing expanded the communication boundary between human beings and machines drastically. The aim of this study is to collect dialectal speech in Korea on a large scale and to establish a digital speech data base in order to provide the data base for further research on the Korean dialectal and the creation of value-added network. 528 informants across the country participated in this study. Acoustic characteristics of vowels and consonants are analyzed by Power spectrum and Spectrogram of CSL. Test words were made on the picture cards and letter cards which contained each vowel and each consonant in the initial position of words. Plot formants were depicted on a vowel chart and transitions of diphthongs were compared according to dialectal speech. Spectral times, VOT, VD, and TD were measured on a Spectrogram for stop consonants, and fricative frequency, intensity, and lateral formants (LF1, LF2, LF3) for fricative consonants. Nasal formants (NF1, NF2, NF3) were analyzed for different nasalities of nasal consonants. The acoustic characteristics of dialectal speech showed that young generation speakers did not show distinction between close-mid /e/ and open-mid$/\epsilon/$. The diphthongs /we/ and /wj/ showed simple vowels or diphthongs depending to dialect speech. The sibilant sound /s/ showed the aspiration preceded to fricative noise. Lateral /l/ realized variant /r/ in Kyungsang dialectal speech. The duration of nasal consonants in Chungchong dialectal speech were the longest among the dialects.

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 2000.07a
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• pp.365-365
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• 2000

English segments adopted into Korean can be divided into three types: Some English segments /$m, {\;}n, {\;}{\eta}, {\;}p^h, {\;}t^h, {\;}k^h$/ are adopted into the original sound [$m, {\;}n, {\;}{\eta}, {\;}p^h, {\;}t^h, {\;}k^h$] in Korean. Other segments /b, d, g/ appear in the voiceless stop form [p, t, k]. Generative Phonology explains the presence of the above English segments in Korean but it cannot explain why the English segments /$f, {\;}v, {\;}{\Theta}, {\;}{\breve{z}}, {\;}{\breve{c}}, {\;}{\breve{j}}$/ disappear during the adopting process. I present a set of universal constraints from the Optimality Theory proposed by Prince and Smolensky(l993) and I show how English segments differently adopted into Korean can be explained by these universal constraints such as Faith(feature). N oAffricateStop, Faith(nasal), NoNasalStop, Faith(voice), NoVoicedStop and the interaction of these constraints. I conclude that this Optimality Theory provides insights that better capture the nature of the phonological phenomena of English segments in Korean.

• MALSORI
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• no.31_32
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• pp.9-22
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• 1996

This study aims to describe the acoustic characteristics of Korean nasal sounds making use of the notion of pole and zero. In case of [m], the 1st and 4th formant almost remains as the original shape respectively, on the contrary, the 2nd and 3rd formant were observed as a variable cluster together. Alveolar [n] shows that the 3rd and 4th formant make a variable cluster with their antiformant(zero), however, the 1st and 2nd formant keep the static shape of their on. Velar [$\eta$] has 4 formants below 2900 Hz and the 3rd and 4th formant constitute a variable cluster together as does the case [n]. With respect to the energy distribution in case of [n] and [$\eta$], the energy value diminishes from Fl up to F3 continuously but augments in F4. The [m] shows that in the region of Fl-F2 does the energy fall down and rise from F3 to above.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2011

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common sleep disordered breathing conditions. Habitual snoring is caused by a vibration of soft tissue of upper airway while breath in sleeping, and obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the repeated obstructions of airflow for a sleeping, specially airflow of pharynx. Researchers have shown that snoring is the most important symptom connected with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome The treatment is directed toward improving the air flow by various surgical and nonsurgical methods. The current surgical procedures used are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP), orthognathic surgery, nasal cavity surgery. Among the nonsurgical methods there are nasal continuous positive air pressure(CPAP), pharmacologic therapy. weight loss in obese patient, oral appliance(sleep splint). Sleep splint brings the mandible forward in order to increase upper airway volume and prevents total upper airway collapse during sleep. However, the precise mechanism of action is not yet completely understood, especially aerodynamic factor. The aim of this study evaluated the effect of conservative treatment of snoring and OSAS by sleep splint through measured aerodynamic change by an aerophone II. We measured a airflow, sound pressure level, duration, mean power from overall airflow by aerophone II mask. The results indicated that on a positive correlation between a decrease in maximum airflow rate and a decrease in maximum sound pressure level, on a negative correlation between a decrease in maximum airflow rate and a increase in duration.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to examine the respiratory system health condition of dental technicians and to be of use for more successful health management and health promotion for them. The subjects in this study were 155 dental technicians who were working in North Jeolla province. Out of them, 70 dental mechanics were investigated in 1993, and 85 were surveyed in 2001. And the reports of the two groups on respiratory distress, including cough, sputum, phlegm, the notable sound of breathing, nasal discharge, coryza, shortness of breath and gasping, were compared. The findings of this study were as below: 1. The cough report rate was 24.3% in 1993 and 16.5% in 2001. There appeared approximately 7.8% decrease between the two years. The most powerful variables included working hours and age. 2. The complaint rate of sputum and phlegm was 47.1% in 1993 and 43.5% in 2001. The rate of 2001 reduced by 3.6%. Whether or not they smoked was identified as the most influential variable. 3. The report rate of shortness of breath and gasping was 7.4% in 1993 and 12.9% in 2001, and this rate showed about 1.5% increase in the latter year. The biggest variables were working hours and career. 4. The complaint rate of nasal discharge and coryza was 41.4% in 1993 and 44.7% in 2001, which showed about 3.3% increase. The largest variables were smoking and career. 5. The report rate of the notable sound of breathing and breathing in light little gasps was 12.0% in 1993 and 17.6% in 2001. There was approximately 5.6% increase, and the most powerful variables were working hours and career.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2011

Congenital or traumatic loss on the oral and maxillary area or the loss of jaws due to the surgical excision of a tumor causes functional problems, such as masticatory and swallowing disorders, phonetic problems and psychological disorders in patients. In most cases, a prosthetic restoration is needed to resolve these problems and restore the damaged tissue and function. When loss occurs on the maxilla, foods and liquids leak into the nasal cavity, and a nasal sound can be heard due to air leakage into the removed area. In these cases, the palatal obturator can be used to improve the esthetic and functional aspects because it restores the removed area of the maxilla and closes the opened route between the oral cavity and maxillary sinus or nasal cavity. In this case report, a palatal obturator was applied to patients who had a hemimaxillectomy due to the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma on the right maxillary area. Therefore, fundamental functions, such as phonetic and swallowing functions were restored, and the esthetic aspects of the facial profile were improved.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2008

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is occurred by apnea by the obstruction of upper trachea while sleeping, followed by repetitive drop on arterial oxygen saturation ($SpO_2$). Therefore, the present study was focused on relation between $SpO_2$ of while having difficulty in breathing and clinical characteristics of OSAS while sleeping. The study took place at Ewha women university Mokdong hospital with 149 subjects (male 121, female 28) who were examined for polysomnography (PSG) from May 2007 to February 2008. All subjects were adhered to electrodes and sensors to measure electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), chin & leg electromyogram (EMG), airflow at nasal and oral cavities, breathing movement of chest and abdominal snoring sound and $SpO_2$. Lowest $SpO_2$ in male was meaningfully low with higher body mass index (BMI), louder snoring sound and thick neck circumference (p<0.01). While mean $SpO_2$ based on the degree of AHI did not show significant difference, lowest $SpO_2$ was significantly low with high AHI (p<0.001). Also, lowest $SpO_2$ was closely correlated with BMI (r=-00.343, p<0.001), snoring sound (r=0.177, p<0.05), apnea index (r=-0.589, p<0.001), hypopnea index (r=-0.336, p<0.001) and apnea-hypopnea index (r=-0.664, p<0.001). $SpO_2$ was closely related to clinical characteristics of OSAS, like male, BMI, snoring sound and neck circumference. Also, polysomnography accompanied by recent development of sleep study is considered as critical test to diagnose OSAS, decide the severity of illness, and evaluate the treatment plan.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the syllable structures of ten Korean numeric sounds produced by ten students. Each sound was normalized by its maximum intensity value and divided into onset, vowel, and coda sections after finding abrupt or visible changes in energy values or cumulative values of lower spectral energy at each pulse point using four Praat scripts. Then, segmental durations and cumulative intensity values of each syllable were obtained to find a statistical summary of the syllable structure. Intensity values at 100 proportional time points were also collected to compare the ten sounds. Results showed as follows: Firstly, there was not much deviation from the grand average duration and intensity for the majority of the sounds except the two diphthongal sounds on which their boundary points varied among the speakers. Secondly, the onset point for the CV or CVC category sounds and the boundary between the vowel and the nasal or lateral sound were easy to identify, which may be automatically traced later. Thirdly, there seems some tradeoff among the sections maintaining the same total duration per each syllable. Further studies on syllables with various onsets or codas would be desirable to make a general statement on the Korean syllable structure.