• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.103-108
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Bel canto singing technique on voice quality in patients with vocal bowing and sulcus vocalis. Five patients with vocal bowing, and five patients with sulcus vocalis participated in the study. Each subject was assessed acoustically (Jitter, Shimmer, NNE) in the first and last session. Dr. Speech (version 4.0, Tiger-DRS) was used to compare acoustic parameters of pre- and post-treatment. The Bel canto singing technique consisted of breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and phonation exercises. The results showed that the Bel canto singing technique tended to be effective on improving voice quality in patients with organic voice disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of the management program known as vocal function exercise (VFE) on voice quality. Typical VFE was modified and applied to patients with vocal nodules by controlling intensity of voice and relieving the vocal fold to solve hyperfunctional problems in VFE. Eight female subjects aged between 28 and 54 who had been diagnosed with vocal nodules took part in the study. The patients performed VFEs once a week for eight weeks. Vocal function exercises consist of voice hygiene, respiratory training, phonation training, and glide training. The subjects' voices were analyzed pre and post therapy on the aspects of acoustics, maximum phonation time (MPT), GRBAS, and voice handicap index (VHI). As a result, it was found that fundamental frequency ($F_o$) was significant increased, shimmer decreased remarkably and that noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) lowered obviously in the acoustic parameter. In addition, MPT was increased significantly. The scale of GRBAS indicated significant improvement in grade, roughness, and strained voice. VHI indicated significant improvement in an emotional part. In conclusion, VFE was effective in improving voice quality for patients with vocal nodules.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in acoustic characteristics after drinking alcoholic beverages and singing in order to establish guidelines for vocal hygiene of both singers and non-singers. 21 university students (10 males and 11 females) vocalized /a/ before drinking, after drinking and after singing. Changes in vocal range and acoustic characteristics were analyzed by Dr. Speech 4.0 (Tigers Electronics). No significant difference was observed in vocal range following drinking. However, there was statistically significant changes in vocal range after singing. We may infer that appropriate amount of singing functioning as vocal warm-up, rather than drinking alone, resulted in improvement in their abilities to lengthen vocal folds. This is directly related to the ability to produce high-pitched sounds. Changes in jitter in female voices after singing was the only acoustic factor that was significant. Changes in Shimmer and NNE was not significant either after drinking nor singing. Subjects who were judged to perform better in singing were marked by minimum acoustic changes, which may due to their well-trained vocal fold function. The results of this study may address the necessity for vocal function exercises for the patients with neurogenic voice disorders including dysarthria. The need for more extensive research with a larger number of subjects including professional voice users is also addressed.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.14-16
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• 2017

Pop singers frequently use breathy voice to express diverse emotion. Such method is the major factor that divides vocalization in pop and classical music. Using breathy voice too much for a long time could make singer short-winded, which might cause the voice injured. In order to prevent the problem, singers need to find resonance balance between high notes and low notes and among vowels. Moreover, they should take more attention when producing resonance in consonants with much air flow. Along with finding resonance balance, if skilled at controlling the volume of voice, singers can use the breathy voice selectively at the desired part, adjusting close quotient freely. Through this kind of approach, pop singers can develope their unique style of vocalization and avoid the vocal damage.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.415-422
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• 2005

Using stretch sensors, a stuttering treatment training device that improve the abnormal breathing of stutterer was designed and developed. To improve stutterer's inadequate breathing method that is one of principal reason of stammering, the device estimates breathing method by checking the changes of the stretch sensor's resistances those are put on the chest and abdomen of user. And a vocal exercise program that carry out exercises only when the user maintains the abdominal breathing was designed. Using a PIC16C711 device that includes an A/D convertor, a main controller was designed and the vocal exercises software was developed using Director and C program with graphic user interface for user convenience. The controller sends the resistance data of sensors to PC through the serial port and the software verifies the breathing method. And the device was designed that the RTS (request to send) pin of serial port in PC is used as a power source so that it can work without any battery or other power source. Three stutterers have carried out the clinical experiments using the implemented device for two months and the results showed it was excellent to alleviate the stuttering.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 2015

Voice therapy after post-thyroidectomy dysphonia is designed to improve glottal closure without supraglottic hyperfunction by development of abdominal support for breathing and intrinsic muscle strengthening exercises. Regarding voice therapy of unilateral vocal fold paresis/paralysis, several techniques such as head positioning, digital manipulation, pushing and pulling method are used for trial or temporary therapy. And the holistic voice therapy such as LSVT, Accent method, VFE are useful for hypofunctional voice disorders. These may be effective interventions as a temporary improvement until normal voice recovers or may provide the essentials for long-term rehabilitation.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2023

Tube phonation in water has been widely used for voice training among semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises in which the patient bubbles with phonation keeping the tube submerged in water. This study aims to investigate the effect of tube diameter and water depth on bubble height and maximum phonation time (MPT) for patients with hyperfunctional voice disorders. Seventeen patients with hyperfunctional voice disorders were asked to bubble with sustained /u/ at the different inner diameters of tube (5, 7, and 10 mm), water depth (4, 7, and 10 cm). A water resistance phonation biofeedback system using a water height sensor was used for recording bubble height and MPT. The bubble height was significantly changed by the tube diameter while MPT was significantly changed with the tube diameter and water depth. Although the wider tube presented significantly lower bubble height for a given depth, relatively consistent bubble height was maintained. Depending on the water depth, the bubble height did not significantly differ for a given tube diameter. In addtion, MPT significantly decreased with water depth and a wider tube led significantly shorter MPT. A water level-driven water resistance biofeedback system provided useful information on bubble characteristics and vocal fold vibration depending on tube diameter and water depth. It can be useful to monitor the breath support during water resistance phonation for patients with hyperfunctional voice disorders.

• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-83
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• 2022

Numbers structure reality and define the way people live. Both in Daoism and in Daesoon Jinrihoe they signify key concepts, notably the cardinal numbers from one through nine that classify different dimensions of the cosmos. Beyond these, the number twenty-four plays an important role. In a temporal mode, it marks the divisions or seasonal periods of the year. Consisting of fifteen days each, these periods signal (and are named after) changes in dominant weather patterns and the position of the sun. Generally activated in the body through particular seasonal activities and dietary prescriptions, in Daoism they are also the root of a series of healing exercises and certain refinement practices of internal alchemy. In Daesoon Jinrihoe, moreover, they are activated by chanting a specific incantation that invokes the twenty-four divine rulers of the divisions, originally a group of Tang Dynasty officials that in nature and function resemble the spirit generals of the early Celestial Masters. Beyond this, the number twenty-four also applies to space. Not unlike the twenty-eight lunar stations or mansions, traditional cosmology acknowledges twenty-four directions, made up of six constellations each in the four cardinal directions, complete with starry deities and divine generals. Their powers are activated with the help of written characters rather than vocal incantations, using techniques common both in Daoism and Daesoon Jinrihoe.