The long-term objective of this research is to develop a scientific basis for standardization of acoustic voice analysis. Information contained in the microphone signal of a speaker is being used today to test various aspects of human body function and condition. Attempts are being made to study mental disorders, neurological disease, aging, emotion, veracity, stress, and a host of respiratory and laryngeal disorders. Effects of smoking, alcohol, drugs, and pollution on the human voice samples, or for extracting acoustic measures. Furthermore, there is no research contributes toward the development of such standards and interpretations.
Specific aims are (1) to develop and propose an ANSI standard for fundamental frequency and peak-to-peak amplitude extraction of recorded signals, (2) to develop an auditory training and calibration tape for acoustic and perceptual analysis, (3) to develop a set of acoustic measures that quantify strength, speed, accuracy, and stability in phonatory control, (4) to develop a set of vocometric tasks for assessment of phonatory form patients and subjects. A series of steady phonations, phonatory transitions (reversals), and sentences are proposed within the framework of the Voice Range Profile (phonetogram). Since some of the measured acoustic effects are subtle, criteria are examined for adequate fidelity in recording, filtering, and sampling of voiced utterances. Microphones, tape recorders, and recording environments are investigated in the contest of voice perturbation measurement. Questions regarding length and multiplicity (number of tokens) of acoustic observations are raised and answered.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC000387-06
Application #
3216756
Study Section
Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1995-06-30
Budget Start
1992-07-01
Budget End
1993-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Department
Type
DUNS #
010615888
City
Denver
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80204
Tom, K; Titze, I R (2001) Vocal intensity in falsetto phonation of a countertenor: an analysis by synthesis approach. J Acoust Soc Am 110:1667-76
Winholtz, W S; Titze, I R (1998) Suitability of minidisc (MD) recordings for voice perturbation analysis. J Voice 12:138-42
Winholtz, W S; Titze, I R (1997) Conversion of a head-mounted microphone signal into calibrated SPL units. J Voice 11:417-21
Winholtz, W S; Titze, I R (1997) Miniature head-mounted microphone for voice perturbation analysis. J Speech Lang Hear Res 40:894-9
Titze, I R; Wong, D; Milder, M A et al. (1995) Comparison between clinician-assisted and fully automated procedures for obtaining a voice range profile. J Speech Hear Res 38:526-35
Scherer, R C; Vail, V J; Guo, C G (1995) Required number of tokens to determine representative voice perturbation values. J Speech Hear Res 38:1260-9
Titze, I R (1994) The G. Paul Moore Lecture. Toward standards in acoustic analysis of voice. J Voice 8:1-7
Titze, I R; Winholtz, W S (1993) Effect of microphone type and placement on voice perturbation measurements. J Speech Hear Res 36:1177-90
Aronson, A E; Ramig, L O; Winholtz, W S et al. (1992) Rapid voice tremor, or ""flutter,"" in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 101:511-8
Winholtz, W S; Ramig, L O (1992) Vocal tremor analysis with the Vocal Demodulator. J Speech Hear Res 35:562-73

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