• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Thyroidectomy patients may have vocal paralysis or paresis, resulting in a breathy voice. The aim of this study was to investigate the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a breathy voice in thyroidectomy patients. Thirty-five subjects who have vocal paralysis after thyroidectomy participated in this study. According to perceptual judgements by three speech pathologists and one phonetic scholar, subjects were divided into two groups: breathy voice group (n = 21) and non-breathy voice group (n = 14). Aerodynamic analysis was conducted by three tasks (Voicing Efficiency, Maximum Sustained Phonation, Vital Capacity) and acoustic analysis was measured during Maximum Sustained Phonation task. The breathy voice group had significantly higher subglottal pressure and more pathological voice characteristics than the non breathy voice group. Showing 94.1% classification accuracy in result logistic regression of aerodynamic analysis, the predictor parameters for breathiness were maximum sound pressure level, sound pressure level range, phonation time of Maximum Sustained Phonation task and Pitch range, peak air pressure, and mean peak air pressure of Voicing Efficiency task. Classification accuracy of acoustic logistic regression was 88.6%, and five frequency perturbation parameters were shown as predictors. Vocal paralysis creates air turbulence at the glottis. It fluctuates frequency-related parameters and increases aspiration in high frequency areas. These changes determine perceptual breathiness.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.127-138
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• 2000

The aim of this paper is to find the speech problems of English Laterals by Korean learners and to contribute to the effective pronunciation education with visualizing the pronunciation. In this paper we analyzed 18 words including lateral sounds which were divided into such as: initial, initial consonant cluster, intervocalic, final consonant cluster, and final. To analyse the words we used High speed speech analysis system. We examined acoustic characteristics of English lateral spectrogram by using voice sustained time(ms), FL1, FL2, FL3. Before we started, we had expected that the result would show us that the mother tongue interfere in the final sounds because we have similar sounds in Korea. The results of our experiments showed that initially, voice sustained time showed many more differences between Korean and native pronunciation. Also, it was seen that Korean pronunciation used the syllable structure of the own mother tongue. For instance, in the case of initial consonant cluster CCVC, Koreans often used CC as a syllable and VC as another. This was due to the mother tongue interference. For this reason in the intervocalic and in the final, we saw the differences between Korean and native. Therefore we have to accept the visualized analysis system in the instruction of pronunciation.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2013

During adolescence the mutational period is characterized by the changes in the laryngeal structure, the length of the vocal cords, and a tone of voice. Usually, adolescents at 15 or 16 reach the voice of adults but the mutational period is sometimes delayed. Therefore, studies on the voice of adolescents between 16 ~ 18 right after the mutational period are required. Accordingly, this paper attempted to provide basic data about the normal standard for patients with voice disorders during this period by evaluating the vocal characteristics of males and females between 16 ~ 18 with an objective device bycomparing and analyzing them by sex and age. The study was conducted on a total of 60 subjects composed of each 10 subjects of each age. The vocal analysis was conducted by MPT (Maximum Phonation Time) measurement, sustained vowels and sentence reading. As for /a/ sustained vowels, fundamental frequency, hereinafter referred to as $F_0$, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, hereinafter referred to as NHR were measured by using the Multi-dimensional voice program (MDVP) among the Multi-Speech program of Computerized Speech Lab (Kay Elemetrics). The sentence reading, mean $F_0$, maximum $F_0$ and minimum $F_0$ were measured using the Real-Time Pitch (RTP) Model 5121 among the Multi-Speech program of Computerized Speech Lab (Kay Elemetrics). As a result, according to sex, there were statistically significant differences in $F_0$, jitter, shimmer, mean $F_0$, maximum $F_0$, and minimum $F_0$; and according to age, there were statistically significant differences in MPT. In conclusion, the voice of the adolescents between 16 ~ 18 reached the maturity levels of adults but the voice quality which can be considered on the scale of voice disorders showed transition to the voice of an adult during the mutational period.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 1998

Mutational falsetto is a kind of voice disorders due to the failure to acquire proper low-pitched voice during the puberty. The patients with mutational falsetto can produce the normal low-pitched voice by the surgical treatment, like the type III-thyroplasty, or the voice therapy. The present study is, focusing on the latter treatment, to consider the efficiency of voice therapy for the mutational falsetto. The 7 patients who were diagnosed as mutational falsetto by the laryngologists, and treated by the voice therapist were selected as subjects. Their voices of pretherapy and posttherapy were analyzed on the aspects of acoustics and aerodynamics. Acoustic analysis was done by the MDVP(Multidimensional Voice Program) of CSL(Computerized Speech Lab, Kay Elemetrics, Co.), and aerodynamic analysis, by the Maximum Sustained Phonation of Aerophone II(Kay Elemetrics, Co.). By these measurements, we could find that fundamental frequency(F0) was significantly lowered, on the average, 65Hz. Maximum phonation time(MPT) was increased 4.57 second, and shimmer was decreased 1.644%, respectively, and each changes was statistically significant, too. On the average, jitter was decreased 0.499%, mean flow rate(MFR) was decreased 27.71ml/sec, and NHR was increased 0.023 which was the only parameter not showing improvement. But the changes of jitter, MFR and NHR were not statistically significant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1998

Objectives : To compare the objective differences in voice quality and voice problems between clergies and normal male control group. Materials and Methods : The sustained vowel sound of 46 clergies and 40 normal persons were analyzed, using a videostroboscopy and acoustic analyzer. Together with these analyses, a questionnaire associated with current and past voice problems was handed over to the patients. Results : The most common symptom in subjective group was the voice fatigue. Stroboscopic findings in subjective group were as following 23 cases(50%) of pachydermia, 17 cases(37%) of phase difference, 12 cases(25%) of anterior-posterior contracture, 6 cases(13%) of vocal polyp and 3 cases(7%) of vocal nodule. The mean maximal phonation time in clergies was 17.8 seconds and in control group was 19 seconds. litter, pitch perturbation quotient and shimmer were significantly increased in subjective group than in control group(p<0.05), but there were no significant differences between two groups in fundamental frequency, vFo, amplitude perturbation quotient and noise to harmonic ratio. Conclusion : In the clergies using loud and forceful voice, vocal polyp and functional voice disorder findings were frequently noted in stroboscopic examination. litter and shimmer, reflecting the roughness of voice, were increased in acoustic analysis. Therefore, clergies, classified into untrained professional voice users, need professional career guidance and counseling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 1997

Backgroud : Now a days, most studies for professional voice user have been performed after artificial voice abuse without consideration of environmental and personal factors, and occupational specificity, therefore those studies have some problems. Objectives : To make a basic guideline for the management of untrained professional voice user, practically we ananalyzed the voice of experimental group. Materials and methods : Just after working, the sustained vowel sounds of the 15 female telephone operators (subjective group) and the 20 normal female persons (control group) were analysed, using a history paper, acoustic analyzer and videostroboscopy. Results : The most common symptom in subjective group was dysphonia. Stroboscopic findings in subjective group were as following ; posterior chink 11 cases (73%), incomplete closure 2 cases (13%), anterior chink 1 case (7%). The mean maximal phonation time in telephone operators was 12.8 seconds and in control group was 16.8 seconds. Jitter, pitch pertubation quotient (PPQ), shimmer and amplitude pertubation quotient (ASQ) were significantly increased in subjective group than control group, but there is no difference between two group in fundamental frequency and noise to harmonic ratio. Conclusion : Untrained professional voice user needs professional career guidance and counseling. And when we manage the untrained professional voice user, we should consider specific occupational, personal and environmental factors as well as laryngeal factors.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2016

The present study examined the change of aerodynamic features after laryngomicrosurgery in patients with vocal polyps. Aerodynamic evaluation was performed in thirty-nine patients (15 males and 24 females) one week before surgery and four weeks after surgery. Evaluation protocols of vital capacity, maximum sustained phonation(MXPH), and voicing efficiency(VOFT) were used to collect 29 phonatory aerodynamic measures, requiring voice with a comfortable pitch and loudness. Statistically significant changes were found for phonation time and airflow values in the MXPH protocol, while changes were also found for airflow values, subglottal pressure values and acoustic resistance values in the VOFT protocol. Although phonation time was increased in both male and female patients, gender-dependent changes were found in airflow measurements. Men's phonation time increased with no difference in airflow rate, but women's phonation time increased with decreased airflow rate and lower subglottal pressure. The changes of aerodynamic features may be affected by women's self-perceived change for vocal attitude, which was reducing sense of vocal effort after surgery.

• 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.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.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2005

Purpose : To evaluate the voices of irradiated patients with early glottic carcinoma and to compare these with the voices of healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods : The voice samples (sustained vowel) of seventeen male patients who had been irradiated for T1a glottic squamous carcinoma at least 1 year prior to the study were analyzed with objective voice analyzer (acoustic voice analysis, aerodynamic test, and videostroboscopic analysis) and compared with those of a normal group of twenty age- and sex-matched volunteers. Average fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio were obtained for acoustic voice analysis. Maximal phonation time, mean flow rate, intensity, subglottic pressure, glottal resistance, glottal efficiency, and glottal power were obtained for aerodynamic test. Results : The irradiated group presented higher values of shimmer in acoustic voice analysis. There was no significant difference between two groups in other parameters. Conclusion : In this study all the objective voice parameters except shimmer were no4 significantly different between the irradiated group and the control group. These results suggest that the voice quality is minimally affected by radiation therapy for 71 a glottic carcinoma.