Vocal hyperfunction (VH), which is characterized by excessive laryngeal tension, accounts for nearly half of the cases referred to multidisciplinary voice clinics and. It can respond to behavioral intervention, but successful treatment depends on proper assessment. Current assessment is hampered by the lack of objective measures for detecting its presence or severity. Relative Fundamental Frequency (RFF, the change in fundamental frequency in vowels preceding and following unvoiced consonants, normalized by fundamental frequency in the more steady state portions vowels) can objectively characterize VH. However, RFF estimates are currently performed manually by trained technicians and clinicians from running speech such that the potential of RFF in diagnosis and assessment is limited by the time-consuming manual nature of RFF estimation. This study will determine the optimal speech stimuli and signal processing for development of automated RFF estimation. We will determine the differences in RFF estimates from running speech versus non-linguistic speech utterances, the effect of linguistic context on the relationship between RFF and vocal tension, and the impact of dysphonia severity on the automated RFF measure. Vocal tension will be estimated in healthy and disordered voices using listener perception of vocal strain, and cross-validated in healthy speakers using objective measurements of the ratio of sound pressure level to subglottal pressure (dB SPL / cm H2O). Measures of RFF estimated using non-linguistic speech utterances have the potential to be automated more reliably. Based on our empirical research, we will develop recommendations for clinical methods of RFF collection to optimize automatic RFF estimation: full running or non-linguistic speech. We will further develop open source algorithms and software for automated RFF estimation. Automated RFF estimation would enable comprehensive clinical collection, facilitating future validation of this promising measure.

Public Health Relevance

For the 3-9% of the U.S. population with a voice disorder, communication is impaired, causing them to suffer both economically and socially. Vocal hyperfunction is characterized by excessive laryngeal and paralaryngeal tension and accounts for nearly half of cases referred to multidisciplinary voice clinics. This project will validate an automated measure of vocal hyperfunction to improve assessment and treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03DC012651-02
Application #
8631081
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Shekim, Lana O
Project Start
2013-03-05
Project End
2016-02-28
Budget Start
2014-03-01
Budget End
2015-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$163,700
Indirect Cost
$63,700
Name
Boston University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
049435266
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
MacPherson, Megan K; Abur, Defne; Stepp, Cara E (2017) Acoustic Measures of Voice and Physiologic Measures of Autonomic Arousal during Speech as a Function of Cognitive Load. J Voice 31:504.e1-504.e9
Lien, Yu-An S; Heller Murray, Elizabeth S; Calabrese, Carolyn R et al. (2017) Validation of an Algorithm for Semi-automated Estimation of Voice Relative Fundamental Frequency. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 126:712-716
Heller Murray, Elizabeth S; Lien, Yu-An S; Van Stan, Jarrad H et al. (2017) Relative Fundamental Frequency Distinguishes Between Phonotraumatic and Non-Phonotraumatic Vocal Hyperfunction. J Speech Lang Hear Res 60:1507-1515
Cler, Gabriel J; Lee, Jackson C; Mittelman, Talia et al. (2017) Kinematic Analysis of Speech Sound Sequencing Errors Induced by Delayed Auditory Feedback. J Speech Lang Hear Res 60:1695-1711
Cler, Meredith J; Lien, Yu-An S; Braden, Maia N et al. (2016) Objective Measure of Nasal Air Emission Using Nasal Accelerometry. J Speech Lang Hear Res 59:1018-1024
Murray, Elizabeth S Heller; Hands, Gabrielle L; Calabrese, Carolyn R et al. (2016) Effects of Adventitious Acute Vocal Trauma: Relative Fundamental Frequency and Listener Perception. J Voice 30:177-85
McKenna, Victoria S; Heller Murray, Elizabeth S; Lien, Yu-An S et al. (2016) The Relationship Between Relative Fundamental Frequency and a Kinematic Estimate of Laryngeal Stiffness in Healthy Adults. J Speech Lang Hear Res 59:1283-1294
Heller Murray, Elizabeth S; Mendoza, Joseph O; Gill, Simone V et al. (2016) Effects of Biofeedback on Control and Generalization of Nasalization in Typical Speakers. J Speech Lang Hear Res 59:1025-1034
Lien, Yu-An S; Calabrese, Carolyn R; Michener, Carolyn M et al. (2015) Voice Relative Fundamental Frequency Via Neck-Skin Acceleration in Individuals With Voice Disorders. J Speech Lang Hear Res 58:1482-7
Lien, Yu-An S; Michener, Carolyn M; Eadie, Tanya L et al. (2015) Individual Monitoring of Vocal Effort With Relative Fundamental Frequency: Relationships With Aerodynamics and Listener Perception. J Speech Lang Hear Res 58:566-75

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