Formant Frequencies of Adult Speakers of Australian English and Effects of Sex, Age, Geographical Location, and Vowel Quality.

AIMS: The primary aim of this study was to provide normative formant frequency (F) values for male and female speakers of Australian English. The secondary aim was to examine the effects of speaker sex, age, vowel quality, and geographical location on F. METHOD: The first three monophthong formant frequencies (F1, F2, and F3) for 244 female and 135 male speakers aged 18-60 years from a recent large-scale corpus of Australian English were analysed on a passage reading task. RESULTS: Mixed effects linear regression models suggested that speaker sex, speaker age, and vowel quality significantly predicted F1, F2, and F3 (P = 0.000). Effect sizes suggested that speaker sex and vowel quality contributed most to the variations in F1, F2, and F3 whereas speaker age and geographical location contributed a smaller amount. CONCLUSION: Both clinicians and researchers are provided with normative F data for 18-60 year-old speakers of Australian English. Such data have increased internal and external validity relative to previous literature. F normative data for speakers of Australian English should be considered with reference to speaker sex and vowel but it may not be practically necessary to adjust for speaker age and geographical location.

Speaking Fundamental Frequencies of Adult Speakers of Australian English and Effects of Sex, Age, and Geographical Location.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to provide a description of normative speaking fundamental frequency (fos) characteristics for adult speakers of Australian English. The effects of age, sex, and geographical location on fos were also examined to assess whether variations existed. METHODS: fos data for 244 female and 135 male speakers aged 18-60 years from a recent large-scale corpus of Australian English were analyzed on a passage reading task. Creak phonation frequencies were first separated from the modal phonation frequencies algorithmically. Descriptive statistics were then generated for modal voice. RESULTS: The mixed effects linear regression model suggested that geographical location had no effect on fos (P = 0.0677). The multiple linear regression model suggested that both sex (P = 0.000) and age (P = 0.000) significantly predicted fos. fos of the female speakers was greater than males by 76 Hz, when accounted for by age, and for every increase in age by one year, fos decreased by 0.37 Hz. Normative data on fos were therefore provided with reference to speaker sex and age only. CONCLUSION: Both clinicians and researchers are provided with normative fos data for 18-60 year-old speakers of Australian English. These updated data have increased internal and external validity relative to previous literature. These increases were achieved by having a larger sample size, systematically sampling speakers of different age groups and geographical locations, sampling contemporary speakers of Australian English and excluding speakers with known concomitant factors that affect fos.

Associations Between Speaking Fundamental Frequency, Vowel Formant Frequencies, and Listener Perceptions of Speaker Gender and Vocal Femininity-Masculinity.

Purpose The aim of the study was to examine associations between speaking fundamental frequency (f os), vowel formant frequencies (F), listener perceptions of speaker gender, and vocal femininity-masculinity. Method An exploratory study was undertaken to examine associations between f os, F 1-F 3, listener perceptions of speaker gender (nominal scale), and vocal femininity-masculinity (visual analog scale). For 379 speakers of Australian English aged 18-60 years, f os mode and F 1-F 3 (12 monophthongs; total of 36 Fs) were analyzed on a standard reading passage. Seventeen listeners rated speaker gender and vocal femininity-masculinity on randomized audio recordings of these speakers. Results Model building using principal component analysis suggested the 36 Fs could be succinctly reduced to seven principal components (PCs). Generalized structural equation modeling (with the seven PCs of F and f os as predictors) suggested that only F 2 and f os predicted listener perceptions of speaker gender (male, female, unable to decide). However, listener perceptions of vocal femininity-masculinity behaved differently and were predicted by F 1, F 3, and the contrast between monophthongs at the extremities of the F 1 acoustic vowel space, in addition to F 2 and f os. Furthermore, listeners' perceptions of speaker gender also influenced ratings of vocal femininity-masculinity substantially. Conclusion Adjusted odds ratios highlighted the substantially larger contribution of F to listener perceptions of speaker gender and vocal femininity-masculinity relative to f os than has previously been reported.

Voice, Articulation, and Prosody Contribute to Listener Perceptions of Speaker Gender: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of the aspects of verbal communication contributing to listener perceptions of speaker gender with a view to providing clinicians with guidance for the selection of the training goals when working with transsexual individuals. Method: Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines were adopted in this systematic review. Studies evaluating the contribution of aspects of verbal communication to listener perceptions of speaker gender were rated against a new risk of bias assessment tool. Relevant data were extracted, and narrative synthesis was then conducted. Meta-analyses were conducted when appropriate data were available. Results: Thirty-eight articles met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis showed speaking fundamental frequency contributing to 41.6% of the variance in gender perception. Auditory-perceptual and acoustic measures of pitch, resonance, loudness, articulation, and intonation were found to be associated with listeners' perceptions of speaker gender. Tempo and stress were not significantly associated. Mixed findings were found as to the contribution of a breathy voice quality to gender perception. Nonetheless, there exists significant risk of bias in this body of research. Conclusions: Speech and language clinicians working with transsexual individuals may use the results of this review for goal setting. Further research is required to redress the significant risk of bias.

Effects of electrical stimulation on vocal functions in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on vocal functions in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following radiation therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: One hundred forty newly treated NPC patients were recruited and randomized into NMES or traditional swallowing exercise (TE) group. Participants received intensive NMES or traditional swallowing therapy and were followed up until 12 months postrandomization. Fifty-seven participants completed the treatment and all of the follow-up assessments. The Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30) was used to measure the vocal functions of the participants. RESULTS: The NMES group showed no significant changes to their vocal functions, whereas the TE group showed a short-term deterioration of voice functions at the 6-month follow-up. VHI-30 scores returned to the baseline level for both groups at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: NMES is shown to provide a short-term benefit on vocal functions for NPC patients following radiation therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b Laryngoscope, 127:1119-1124, 2017.