Acoustic changes of the voice as signs of vocal fatigue in radio broadcasters: preliminary findings.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vocal fatigue is one of the most common voice symptoms. It usually refers to the sensation of vocal tiredness after a long period of speaking or singing. The purpose of this study was to compare the acoustic characteristics of the voice before and after a long period of voice use in a group of radio broadcasters. METHODS: Eight radio broadcasters with normal voices were assessed. We used cepstrum, energy ratio, noise to harmonic ratio and soft phonation index as acoustic variables to assess the possible pre-post vocal loading changes objectively. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant pre-post differences in any of the acoustic parameters. Although cepstrum at high pitch did not show a significant difference, it obtained the greatest difference among the acoustic variables. CONCLUSIONS: The acoustic measurements used in the present study might not be sensitive enough or appropriate for detecting vocal changes after a long period of voice use, whether in reading (as reported in previous research) or speaking tasks. Moreover, a longer period of vocal loading would eventually reveal more evident and consistent acoustic voice changes.

Cambios acústicos de la voz como signos de fatiga vocal en locutores de radio: resultados preliminares / Acoustic changes of the voice as signs of vocal fatigue in radio broadcasters: Preliminary findings

Introducción y objetivos: En la clínica de voz, uno de los síntomas más frecuentes es la fatiga vocal, la cual usualmente se refiere a la sensación de cansancio de la voz posterior al uso prolongado de esta durante las tareas de habla o canto. El propósito de este estudio fue comparar las características acústicas de la voz antes y después de un periodo prolongado de uso de la misma en una población de locutores de radio. Métodos: Ocho locutores de radio con voces normales, fueron evaluados. Cepstrum, energy ratio, índice ruido-armónico e índice de fonación suave fueron los parámetros acústicos utilizados para valorar objetivamente el posible cambio pre y poslocución. Resultados: Ninguno de los parámetros evaluados mostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las muestras pre y poslocución. A pesar de no ser significativo, el parámetro que obtuvo mayor diferencia fue el cepstrum durante la fonación de frecuencia fundamental aguda. Conclusiones: Posiblemente las medidas acústicas utilizadas no son lo suficientemente sensibles o adecuadas para detectar eventuales cambios vocales después de un periodo vocal prolongado, ya sea mediante tareas de lecturas como ha sido proporcionado por estudios previos, como tampoco en tareas de locución. Además, eventualmente un periodo de tiempo de carga vocal mayor al utilizado en esta investigación podría revelar cambios acústicos más evidentes y consistentes (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Vocal fatigue is one of the most common voice symptoms. It usually refers to the sensation of vocal tiredness after a long period of speaking or singing. The purpose of this study was to compare the acoustic characteristics of the voice before and after a long period of voice use in a group of radio broadcasters. Methods: Eight radio broadcasters with normal voices were assessed. We used cepstrum, energy ratio, noise to harmonic ratio and soft phonation index as acoustic variables to assess the possible pre-post vocal loading changes objectively. Results: There were no statistically significant pre-post differences in any of the acoustic parameters. Although cepstrum at high pitch did not show a significant difference, it obtained the greatest difference among the acoustic variables. Conclusions: The acoustic measurements used in the present study might not be sensitive enough or appropriate for detecting vocal changes after a long period of voice use, whether in reading (as reported in previous research) or speaking tasks. Moreover, a longer period of vocal loading would eventually reveal more evident and consistent acoustic voice changes (AU)