Characterization of Dermatoglyphic Profiles and its Relation to Acoustic Measures in Voice Professionals.

INTRODUCTION: Acoustic analysis is widely used for assessing and monitoring vocal function. Dermatoglyphics is a method that analyzes genetic fingerprint markers, and uses that information for predicting physical skills related to anaerobic (explosive strength and speed) and aerobic (motor coordination and resistance) mechanisms. Therefore, it can be used as an indicator for individualized vocal training. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the dermatoglyphic profiles and their relation to acoustic measures in voice professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 79 voice professionals. Acoustic analysis was performed using the PRAAT software. Mean intensity, fundamental frequency (F0), and cepstral peak prominence (CPP) value were extracted from the sustained vowel /a/. Fingerprints were collected using a Watson mini-integrated biometric scanner, and were quantified by design predominance, delta index (D10), total ridge count (TRC), and dermatoglyphic profile. The acoustic measures were analyzed descriptively and compared, considering the subjects' dermatoglyphic profiles. The confidence levels ranged from 90% to 95%. RESULTS: Most subjects exhibited anaerobic dermatoglyphic profiles (P = 0.004) and low TRC (p < 0.001). Higher F0 (P = 0.061), intensity (P = 0.065), and CPP (P = 0.073) were found for anaerobics (P < 0.001). There was a weak and negative correlation between TRC and intensity (P = 0.026), as well as between F0 (P = 0.017) and CPP (P = 0.069). CONCLUSION: Anaerobic profiles were predominant. The values of F0, intensity, and CPP increased for the anaerobics. There was a weak negative correlation between the TRC and intensity, F0, and CPP measures. Dermatoglyphics could have been seen as an interesting tool in the voice assessment and training direction for voice professionals.

Medidas de efeito das intervenções em vozes saudáveis: uma revisão de escopo / Measurements of the effect of interventions on heathly voices: a scope review

RESUMO Objetivo mapear as medidas de avaliação vocal utilizadas para verificar o efeito da intervenção em indivíduos vocalmente saudáveis. Estratégia de pesquisa trata-se de uma revisão de escopo baseada na questão de pesquisa: "Quais as medidas de avaliação vocal utilizadas para verificar o efeito da intervenção em indivíduos vocalmente saudáveis?" A busca foi realizada de forma eletrônica nas bases de dados MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (BVS), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), Embase e Cochrane. Critérios de seleção a seleção dos estudos foi baseada na leitura dos títulos, resumos, palavras-chave e textos completos, aplicando-se os critérios de elegibilidade. Foram extraídos os dados relacionados às informações bibliográficas da publicação, características da amostra e da intervenção, os efeitos da intervenção nas medidas de autoavaliação, perceptivo-auditivas, acústicas, aerodinâmicas, eletroglotográficas, resultado do exame laríngeo, entre outros. Os dados foram resumidos e apresentados de forma quantitativa e descritiva. Resultados foram selecionados 97 artigos, entre os 979 estudos mapeados nesta revisão. A análise acústica foi a medida mais utilizada (n=70, 72,3%) para verificar os efeitos do treinamento vocal nos estudos selecionados, seguida pela eletroglotografia (n= 55, 56,7%), autoavaliação (n= 38, 39,2%), aerodinâmica (n= 33, 34,0%), julgamento perceptivo-auditivo (n= 22, 22,7%) e exame laríngeo (n= 16, 16,5%). Conclusão a análise acústica é a medida utilizada na maioria dos estudos para verificar o efeito da intervenção em indivíduos vocalmente saudáveis.

ABSTRACT Purpose to map the vocal assessment measures used to verify the effect of the intervention in vocally healthy individuals. Research strategy This is a scope review based on the research question: What vocal assessment measures are used to verify the effect of the intervention in vocally healthy individuals? The search was carried out electronically in MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (BVS), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), Embase and Cochrane databases. Selection criteria The selection of studies was based on reading the titles, abstracts, keywords and full texts, applying the eligibility criteria. Data related to the publication's bibliographic information, sample and intervention characteristics, the effects of the intervention on self-assessment, auditory-perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, electroglottographic measures, laryngeal examination results, among others, were extracted. The data were summarized and presented in a quantitative and descriptive way. Results 97 articles were selected, among the 979 studies mapped in this review. Acoustic analysis was the most used measure (n=70, 72.3%) to verify the effects of vocal training in the selected studies, followed by electroglottography (n= 55, 56.7%), self-assessment (n= 38, 39 .2%), aerodynamics (n= 33, 34.0%), auditory-perceptual judgment (n= 22, 22.7%) and laryngeal examination (n= 16, 16.5%). Conclusion Acoustic analysis is the measure used in most studies to verify the effect of the intervention in vocally healthy individuals.

Recognition of the Effect of Vocal Exercises by Fuzzy Triangular Naive Bayes, a Machine Learning Classifier: A Preliminary Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Machine learning (ML) methods allow the development of expert systems for pattern recognition and predictive analysis of intervention outcomes. It has been used in Voice Sciences, mainly to discriminate between healthy and dysphonic voices. Parameter patterns of vocal acoustic analysis and vocal perceptual assessment can be evaluated by ML classifiers, such as the Fuzzy Triangular Naive Bayes (FTriangNB), after using techniques that improve the vocal quality of individuals with healthy or dysphonic voices. Thus, the goal of this study was to analyze the performance of the FTriangNB to detect patterns in the acoustic parameters and the auditory-perceptual assessment of 12 women with dysphonia and 12 vocally healthy women, after performing three vocal exercises (tongue trills, semi-occluded vocal tract exercise with a high-resistance straw - SOVTE, and over-articulation). METHODS: The FTriangNB classifier contained in the Fuzzy Class package was implemented in the data analysis software R Studio version 1.4.1106 for Macintosh. The confusion matrix was extracted, as well as the accuracy, the Kappa coefficient, and the class statistics. The final result was compared with those generated by FTriangNB with the same variables from the preapplication database of the exercises. RESULTS: The FTriangNB presented good accuracy (87.5%) and Kappa coefficient (81.3%), and showed almost perfect agreement after application of the exercises, while the results before the application of the exercises demonstrated accuracy without acceptable discrimination capacity (33.3%) and Kappa coefficient with a poor agreement (-6.67%). The Semioccluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTE) with high strength straw presented with a sensitivity and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of value 1 (one), and the over-articulation's specificity and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) also showed a value of 1 (one). CONCLUSIONS: The FTriangNB showed great accuracy in recognizing the effect of vocal exercises. Exploratory studies with larger samples using FTriangNB, as well as other Machine Learning classifiers should be further carried out for this purpose in the Voice Science to enable inferences.

Dermatoglifia e condição vocal de professores universitários / Dermatoglyphy and vocal condition of professors

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a associação entre o perfil dermatoglífico e a condição vocal dos professores de uma instituição pública de ensino superior. Métodos Participaram do estudo 49 docentes. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de coleta: questionário sociodemográfico e Índice de Triagem para Distúrbios da Voz (ITDV). As impressões digitais foram coletadas por meio do scanner Watson Mini da Integrated Biometric e a análise realizada por meio do protocolo de Cummins e Midlo. Os resultados foram expostos em frequência absoluta. Foi realizado o teste Qui-Quadrado, com nível de significância de 5%, para verificação da associação dos sintomas vocais do ITDV com o perfil dermatoglífico. Resultados houve prevalência do gênero feminino entre os docentes universitários estudados. Quanto à classificação do perfil dermatoglífico, a maioria apresentou perfil anaeróbico. Observou-se associação estatisticamente significativa apenas entre perfil dermatoglífico e carga horária semanal. Conclusão a maioria dos sujeitos de perfil anaeróbico teve maior frequência de sintomas vocais. Observou-se associação estatisticamente significativa entre carga horária semanal e perfil dermatoglífico.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the association between the dermatoglyphic profile and the vocal condition of teachers at a public higher education institution. Methods 49 professors participated in the study. After signing the Informed Consent Form, the following instruments were used: sociodemographic questionnaire and Voice Disorder Screening Index (ITDV). Fingerprints were collected using the Integrated Biometric Watson Mini scanner and analysis performed using the Cummins and Midlo protocol. The results were presented in absolute frequency. The Chi-Square Test was performed, with a significance level of 5%, to verify the association of ITDV vocal symptoms with a dermatoglyphic profile. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of a public higher education institution under protocol number 3,372.226. Results There was a prevalence of females among the university professors studied. As for the classification of the dermatoglyphic profile , most had an anaerobic profile. There was a statistically significant association only between dermatoglyphic profile and weekly workload. Conclusion Most subjects with an anaerobic profile had more frequency of vocal symptoms. There was a statistically significant association between weekly working hours and dermatoglyphic profile.

Self-perception of surface hydration effect on teachers' voice quality: an intervention study / Autopercepção do efeito da hidratação direta na qualidade vocal de professores: um estudo de intervenção

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the effects of surface hydration on vocal quality according to teachers' self-perception. Methods: an examiner-blinded pre-test and post-test intervention study carried out with a single group of 27 teachers. Sociodemographic characteristics and work questionnaire, Screening Index for Voice Disorder, Vocal Severity Rating Scale, Expected Effects Pre-intervention, Perceived Effects Post-intervention and Post-intervention Perception instruments, were applied. The intervention lasted 4 weeks and consisted of 5 minutes of nebulization with saline solution (sodium chloride 0.9%), after 10 minutes of mouth dehydration, prior to teaching. Results: screening Index for Voice Disorder scores demonstrated a statistically significant reduction (p=0.001). Frequency of voice disorders in the Vocal Severity Rating Scale was reduced without a statistical significance (p= 0.172). Expected Effects, Pre-intervention, and Perceived Effects, Post-intervention, showed improvement in vocal quality (40.7%), vocal comfort (40.7%) and vocal folds hydration (37%). Post-intervention perception form showed moderate improvement of the symptoms (59.3%), cleared voice (55.6%) and ease speaking (48.1%) as well as intense belief in the intervention (74.1%) and intense compliance to the intervention (74.1%). Conclusion: surface hydration with saline solution promoted self-perceived improvement in vocal quality.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos da hidratação da superfície na qualidade vocal, segundo a autopercepção dos professores. Métodos: estudo de intervenção pré-teste e pós-teste, cego ao examinador, com grupo único de 27 professores. Foram avaliadas características sociodemográficas e do trabalho, por meio de questionário estruturado, e aplicados os instrumentos Índice de Triagem para Distúrbio de Voz, Escala de Classificação da Severidade Vocal, Efeitos Esperados Pré-intervenção, Efeitos Percebidos Pós-intervenção e Percepção Pós-Intervenção. A intervenção durou quatro semanas e consistiu em cinco minutos de nebulização com soro fisiológico (cloreto de sódio a 0,9%), após 10 minutos de desidratação, antes de lecionar. Resultados: Índice de Triagem para Distúrbio de Voz demonstrou redução estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,001). A frequência de distúrbios da voz no Escala de Classificação da Severidade Vocal foi reduzida sem significância estatística (p = 0,172). Efeitos Esperados Pré-intervenção e Efeitos Percebidos Pós-intervenção mostraram melhora na qualidade vocal (40,7%), conforto vocal (40,7%) e hidratação das pregas vocais (37%). Percepção Pós-intervenção demonstrou melhora moderada dos sintomas vocais (59,3%), voz mais clara (55,6%) e facilidade ao falar (48,1%), intensa credibilidade na intervenção (74,1%) e intensa adesão a intervenção (74,1%). Conclusão: a hidratação de superfície com soro fisiológico, promoveu melhora autorreferida da qualidade vocal dos professores.

The Effect of Surface Hydration on Teachers' Voice Quality: An Intervention Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of surface hydration on teachers' voice quality. STUDY DESIGN: This is an examiner-blinded, pretest and posttest intervention study with a single group of subjects. METHOD: Subjects were 27 teachers from a public-sector state school in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Pre- and post-intervention voice recordings were obtained. Voice samples collected underwent computerized acoustic analysis (VoxMetria) and perceptual analysis via the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice. Intervention was conducted daily before teaching for a 4-week period, consisting of 5 minutes of nebulization with saline solution (NaCl 0.9%), after 10 minutes of dehydration breathing through the mouth. RESULTS: A reduction in the overall level of voice alteration was observed in the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice, but with no statistical significance. The following were observed: an increase in the mean fundamental frequency of the vowel /a:/ (P = 0.036); a statistically significant reduction in the minimum intensity of connected speech (P = 0.028), in the median intensity of connected speech (P = 0.014), and in the maximum intensity of connected speech (P = 0.007). There was also a statistically significant reduction in the minimum (P = 0.001) and mean intensities of spontaneous speech (P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Surface hydration with saline solution led to an improvement in teachers' voice quality.