• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2001

Aims of study : The purpose of this study is to measure the chronic and daily voice burden of the professionals in their actual working places. These will be a valuable guideline for preventing and controlling the voice production of professionals. Material and method : Our study was selected to the 10 female telephone operators in the Asan Medical Center, ages ranging from 22 to 38 years old. The symptoms and acoustic analysis of both telephone operators and the controls were evaluated before and after their working. The symptoms were evaluated with questionaires, and the acoustic analysis was measured by using CSL (computerized speech laboratory) system. Results : The symptoms of the professional voice abusers are same as those symptoms in laryngeal fatigue. The acoustic analysis before their working were significantly increased in jitter and shimmer, in comparison with the data of the control. This shows that the experimental group is exposed to the chronic burden of voice production. The jitter, shimmer, and NHR after their working are significantly increased in comparison with the data of the acoustic analysis before their working. This also shows that the experimental group is exposed to the daily burden of voice production. Conclusion : The acoustic analysis of the professional voice overusers has objectively measured that there are chronic and daily overloading to the voice of operators, and these will be a valuable data for preventing and controlling the professionals that abuse their voice.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.77-86
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Sea Dong-Il's technique on voice quality in patients with vocal nodules and phonasthenia (vocal fatigue). Ten patients (4 nodules and 6 vocal fatigue) participated in the study. Each subject was assessed acoustically (Fo, Jitter, Shimmer, NNE) in the first and last session. Dr. Speech (version 3.4, Tiger-DRS) was used to compare acoustic parameters of pre-and post-treatment. Sea Dong-Il's technique consisted of breathing exercise, relaxation exercise, and phonation exercise. The results were as follows: First, Sea Dong- Il's technique tended to be effective on improving voice quality in patients with phonasthenia and vocal nodules. Second, the nature of improvements were as follows: there was a significant difference between pre-and post-treatment in shimmer (p < .01) and NNE (p < .001), while there was no significant difference between pre-and post-treatment in Fo and Jitter. Finally, given the fact that the number of subjects was only 10, the jitter might have shown a significant difference if more subjects participated in the experiment.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate any changes in acoustic qualities of voice as ,a function of nasalance, in order to determine the relationship between vocal quality and nasalance. Twenty normal subjects (10 males and 10 females) vocalized /a/, /$\tilde{a}$/, and /a $\eta$/. The changes in nasalance and acoustic characteristics of the voice were analyzed by Nasometer (Model 6200-3, Kay Elemetrics, co) and Dr, Speech 4.0 (Tiger Electronics, Co), respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to examine any changes in jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio, and normalized noise energy relative to the nasalance in 3 types of vocalization. The Person r correlation coefficient was used to identify the relationship between the nasalance and the vocal quality. There was no statistically significant changes in jitter, shimmer, HNR and NNE. The jitter, however, tended to increase as the nasalance socre increased, compared to the other vocal parameters. In addition, the NNE showed an increase on / $\tilde{a}$/, and /a $\eta$/, more on the /a $\eta$/. Thus, it was speculated that NNE could be used to identify or screen resonant disorders with hypernasality

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.109-115
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to identify acoustic parameters of connected speech and to contribute to acoustic analysis of dysphonic voice about patient's natural speech voice as well as sustained phonation of vowels. Acoustic parameters of sentences included LTAS (long-term average spectrum) mean and spectral slope over frequence ranges such as 0-4kHz, 0-6kHz, 0-8kHz, 0-12.5kHz as well as HNR. Acoustic parameters of the vowel 'a' included jitter, RAP, shimmer, NHR, and HNR. Based on 'G' of GRBAS for the severity of dysphonia, two experienced raters judged and classified as four groups including controls, mild, moderate and severe dysphonic group. Connected speech was two sentences extracted from 'stroll' passage. Parameters of the vowel and LTAS mean of the sentences were measured by CSL. The spectral slope of the sentences and HNR of the vowel and the sentences were measured by Praat. Data were statistically analyzed by Spearman correlation and Kruskal-Wallis test using SPSS 12.0. The results of this study are as follows: First, jitter, RAP, shimmer and NHR were significantly different between the groups. Second, for several frequencies, LTAS mean and spectral slope of the sentences were significantly different between the groups. Third, the HNR of the sentences were significantly different between the groups. Forth, there was a presence of correlation between HNR and NHR of the vowel and HNR of the sentences. Accordingly, this study concluded that LTAS, spectral slope, and HNR were predictive parameters of connected speech voice for dysphonic voice.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2010

In this study, the most stable portion was identified using 5% moving window during /a/ sustained phonation in normal and pathologic voice signals and the perturbation values were compared between normal and pathologic voices at the mid-point and at the most stable portion using moving window, respectively. The results revealed that some severe pathologic voice signals can be eligible for perturbation analysis by identifying the most stable portion with Err less than 10. In addition, the perturbation acoustic parameters did not differentiate the pathologic voice signals from the normal voice signals when the mid-point was selected to measure the perturbation analysis(p>0.05). However, significantly higher %shimmer and lower SNR values were observed in pathologic voices (p<0.05) when the most stable portion was selected by moving window. In conclusion, moving window could identify the most stable portion objectively which can allow toget the minimum perturbation values (%jitter, %shimmer) and maximum SNR values. Thus, moving window technique can be applicable for more reliable and accurate perturbation acoustic analysis.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2010

The present research investigated the characteristics of voice between genders and nationalities by measuring the acoustic parameter values of Korean and Chinese students. Sound Forge was used to collect voice samples and Praat was used to measure and analyze jitter, shimmer, NHR, $sF_0$, and pitch range. The results of this research are a follows. First, during prolongation of the vowels, there was no significant difference in $F_0$ between Korean and Chinese males and Korean and Chinese females. Korean males and females had higher $F_0$ values than Chinese males and females. Secondly, during sentence reading, there was no significant difference between Korean and Chinese males in $sF_0$. But between female groups, there was a significant difference in $sF_0$. Thirdly, during sentence reading, the pitch range in Korean males was found to be narrower compared to Korean and Chinese females who had wider pitch range, showing a significant difference. Fourthly, jitter in the five vowels /a, i, u, e, o/ was found to be higher in Chinese than Korean subjects. In the vowels /a, e, u/ females were higher than males showing a significant difference. Fifthly, shimmer in the vowels /a, e, u/ was found to be higher in Chinese than Korean subjects showing a significant difference. Finally, NHR in the vowels /a, u, o/ was found to be higher in Chinese than Korean subjects showing a significant difference.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.51-53
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• 2005

Considerable noise is sometimes associated with degeneration of the hee joint surface. Such noise may indicate roughness or softening of the cartilage surfaces, and may be a useful index for early disease. In this study, we have evaluated arthritic pathology using the acoustical analysis of knee joint sounds. During sitting and standing periods, subjects' active knee flexion and extension were monitored. Fundamental frequency, mean amplitude of pitch, jitter and shimmer were analyzed according to the position and the joint angle. The result showed that the fundamental frequency of the 2nd patient group and standing position was higher than the others, and that the pitch of sounds changed unstably. These results suggest that an analysis of knee joint sound might assist non-invasive diagnosis of an articular pathology.

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.292-294
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• 2007

This study was designed to compare the translated patient's subjective rating scales for voice evaluation (Voice Handicap Index; VHI, Voice-Related Quality of Life; V-RQOL, Voice Rating Score; VRS) into Korean, taken from 24 professional voice users diagnosed with organic voice disorders. First, the correlation amongh those scales were observed. Second, the correlation between the patient's subjective rating scales and acoustic measures (Jitter%, Shimmer%, NHR) were examined. Third, those scales were compared by clinician's objective scale (G in GRBAS scale). Results indicated that significant correlations among the patients' subjective rating scales and significant correlations of clinician's rating scale with jitter% and Shimmer%, but not with NHR were observed. In addition, there were significant correlations of G with VHI and VHI-P (one of subscale of VHI). However, none of acoustic measures were correlated with the patient's subjective rating scales.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : The etiology and pathophysiology of spasmodic dysphonia is yet unknown. This study was performed to determine if any laryngeal aerodynamic parameter distinguish the voice of patient diagnosed as having adductor spasmodic dysphonia from individuals with normal voice production and to investigate the pathophysiology of spasmodic dysphonia. Materials and Methods : fifteen women diagnosed as having adductor spasmodic dysphonia and fifteen normal control women participitated in this study Maximum phonation time, mean air flow rate, subglottic pressure, vocal efficiency, Vfo, NHR, VTI, FTRI, ATRI, Jitter percent, Shimmer percent were obtained from the participants using 'MDVP(multi-dimensional voice program)' of CSL(Computerized Speech lab, Kay Elemetrics, Co., Model No. 4300), and 'maximum sustained phonation' and 'IPIPI test' of AP II(Aerophone II, Kay Elemetrics, Co., Model 6800). Results : T-test statistical analysis revealed statistically different values for vocal efficiency, Vfo, NHR, MPT, litter percent, Shimmer percent between the spasmodic dysphonia group and the control group. Conclusions : Spasmodic dysphonia affects the ability of the laryngeal mechanism to function effectively. Results from our study demonstrate that certain aerodynamic and acoustic parameters distinguish adductor spasmodic dysphonia from normal voice.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.147-154
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of voice improvement when vocal training, which relaxes the vocal contact, is applied to children with vocal nodules. Subjects included 20 5- to 12-year-old boys with vocal nodules in Otolaryngology and for whom voice therapy had been advised. The vocal therapy was conducted for 40 minutes per a week for a total of eight times. Results were evaluated by videostroboscopy, auditory-perceptual evaluation of GRBAS Scale, aerodynamic test, and acoustic analysis before and after therapy. As a result, first, the size of vocal nodules was reduced and the unstable pattern of vocal contact was improved. Glottic closure was increased and Phase symmetry was decreased during vocal vibration. Mucosal wave was increased and muscle tension of the larynx was reduced. Second, auditory-perceptual evaluation showed that subjects' overall quality of voice improved. GRBAS Scale Evaluation showed that the characteristics of the subjects' voice which were rough, breathy, and strained and breathy were reduced after therapy. Third, the measurements of acoustic parameters showed a statistically significant improvement. The fundamental frequency of the subejects' voice was increased and values of Jitter and Shimmer, NHR, [H1-H2] decreased. Fourth, the maximum phonation time of children was increased. These results imply that vocal relaxation training conducted in this study has a very positive effect to improve the voice of children with vocal nodules.