Potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico em fumantes / Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in smokers

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar os resultados dos exames de potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico em indivíduos não tabagistas e tabagistas. Métodos: foram estudados 40 indivíduos, sendo 20 não tabagistas e 20 tabagistas, com idades entre 20 e 59 anos. Todos os participantes incluídos na pesquisa deveriam apresentar respostas de limiares tonais dentro dos padrões da normalidade e timpanometria tipo A com presença de reflexos acústicos contralaterais e ipsilaterais. Em ambos os grupos foram realizados os potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico (PEATE), por meio de cliques. Os parâmetros que foram utilizados na comparação dos dois grupos foram as latências absolutas das ondas I, III e V; as interlatências das ondas I-III, I-V e III-V em ambas as orelhas; a diferença da latência interpico I-V entre as duas orelhas e a diferença interaural da latência absoluta da onda V entre as duas orelhas. Resultados: os resultados encontrados mostraram que o grupo de tabagistas apresentou latência I da Orelha Direita (p=0,036), latência V da Orelha Direita (p=0,007), latência V da Orelha Esquerda (p=0,014), interlatência III-V da Orelha Direita (p=0,015) e Orelha Esquerda (p=0,016) significantemente maior que o grupo de não tabagistas. Não houve diferença significante na latência da onda V entre as duas orelhas. Conclusão: os resultados da pesquisa levaram à conclusão de que o tabaco é um fator de risco para o sistema nervoso auditivo central, que pode interferir nas latências e interlatências das ondas do PEATE no grupo de tabagistas quando comparado com o grupo de não tabagistas.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to perform a comparative study of brainstem evoked auditory potentials between smokers and non-smokers. Methods: the group studied was composed of 40 individuals, being 20 non-smokers and 20 smokers within the range of 20 to 59 years of age. All participants had to present responses to tonal thresholds within normal range and tympanometry type A, with the presence of ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflexes. Both groups underwent brain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP). The parameters used to compare the two groups were the absolute latencies of waves I, III and V, the inter-latency waves I-III, IV and III-V in both ears, the difference between the IV inter-peak latency between the two ears and the inter-aural difference of wave V absolute latency between the two ears. Results: in our results, it was ascertained that the group of smokers showed latency I in the RE (p= 0.036), latency V in the RE (p= 0.007), latency V in the LE (p=0.014), inter-latency III-V in the RE (p=0.015) and LE (p= 0.016) significantly higher than the non-smokers. There was no significant difference in wave V latency between the two ears. Conclusion: the results of the study led to the conclusion that tobacco is a risk factor for the central auditory nervous system, interfering with latencies and with BAEP inter-wave latencies in the group of smokers when compared to the group of non-smokers.

Translation and preliminary evaluation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Transgender Voice Questionnaire for male-to-female transsexuals.

PURPOSE: To contribute to the development of a Brazilian Portuguese language version of the vocal self-assessment questionnaire, Transsexual Voice Questionnaire: Male-to-Female (TVQ:MtF), and to evaluate the questionnaire for use in Brazil. METHODS: The research was divided into two parts: (1) translation and adaptation of the questionnaire (TVQ:MtF) and demographic form and (2) preliminary study of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) of the adapted version of the questionnaire. For the translation and adaptation, the following steps were taken: translation, reconciliation, back-translation, harmonization, and pilot test. The TVQ:MtF questionnaire and the demographic form were applied to 13 male-to-female transsexuals, aged between 21 and 47 years. The participants agreed to answer the TVQ:MtF on two occasions (test and retest), with an optimal interval of 30 days. RESULTS: Two psychometric properties were investigated: internal consistency and test-retest reliability. High levels of internal consistency (in both test (α=0.911) and retest (α=0.952) conditions) and reliability (with an average ICC=0.957 (95%CI 0.916-0.984)), were found. CONCLUSION: The TVQ:MtF is an appropriate instrument for vocal self-assessment of male-to-female transsexual patients, which can be recommended for clinical and research goals.

Translation and preliminary evaluation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Transgender Voice Questionnaire for male-to-female transsexuals / Tradução e avaliação preliminar da versão em Português do Questionário de Autoavaliação Vocal para Transexuais de Homem para Mulher

PURPOSE: To contribute to the development of a Brazilian Portuguese language version of the vocal self-assessment questionnaire, Transsexual Voice Questionnaire: Male-to-Female (TVQ:MtF), and to evaluate the questionnaire for use in Brazil. METHODS: The research was divided into two parts: (1) translation and adaptation of the questionnaire (TVQ:MtF) and demographic form and (2) preliminary study of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) of the adapted version of the questionnaire. For the translation and adaptation, the following steps were taken: translation, reconciliation, back-translation, harmonization, and pilot test. The TVQ:MtF questionnaire and the demographic form were applied to 13 male-to-female transsexuals, aged between 21 and 47 years. The participants agreed to answer the TVQ:MtF on two occasions (test and retest), with an optimal interval of 30 days. RESULTS: Two psychometric properties were investigated: internal consistency and test-retest reliability. High levels of internal consistency (in both test (α=0.911) and retest (α=0.952) conditions) and reliability (with an average ICC=0.957 (95%CI 0.916-0.984)), were found. CONCLUSION: The TVQ:MtF is an appropriate instrument for vocal self-assessment of male-to-female transsexual patients, which can be recommended for clinical and research goals. .

OBJETIVO: O propósito deste estudo é desenvolver a versão em língua portuguesa do questionário de autoavaliação vocal TVQ: MtF (Transgender Voice Questionnaire for male to female Transsexuals), bem como verificar a aplicabilidade do instrumento para uso no Brasil. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa foi dividida em duas partes: (1) tradução e adaptação do questionário TVQ: MtF e da ficha demográfica; e (2) estudo preliminar das propriedades psicométricas (consistência interna e confiabilidade teste-reteste) da versão adaptada do questionário. Para a tradução e adaptação foram seguidos os seguintes estágios: tradução, conciliação, retrotradução, harmonização e teste piloto. O questionário TVQ: MtF e a ficha demográfica foram aplicados em 13 transexuais de homem para mulher, com idades entre 21 e 47 anos. As participantes concordaram em responder o TVQ: MtF em dois momentos (teste e reteste), cujo intervalo entre as aplicações idealizado foi de 30 dias. RESULTADOS: Duas propriedades psicométricas foram investigadas: consistência interna e confiabilidade teste-reteste. Foram obtidos altos níveis de consistência interna no teste (α=0,911) bem como no reteste (α=0,952), com alta confiabilidade, CCI médio=0,957(IC95% 0,916-0,984). CONCLUSÃO: O TVQ: MtF é um instrumento indicado para autoavaliação vocal de pacientes transexuais de homem para mulher, sendo recomendado para fins clínicos e de pesquisa. .

Frequency measurement of vowel formants produced by Brazilian children aged between 4 and 8 years.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate frequency measurement of the first three formants of the seven oral Brazilian Portuguese vowels of healthy children aged 4-8 years. METHODS: Two hundred seven children of both genders were selected by oral expression screening and perceptive-auditory analysis. They were separated into four age groups (G1, G2, G3, and G4) and by gender. The voice signals were obtained from key sentence utterance and segments of the seven Brazilian Portuguese oral vowels in tonic position used to estimate formant frequency measurement. Software Praat was used to for processing the recordings. RESULTS: Findings were presented by mean values of each of the investigated parameters. A rate of 61.90% of statistically significant differences between genders was found, and when analyzing the age groups and genders, we observed that 65 of the 84 items studied (seven vowels × three formant frequencies × four groups) had higher frequencies of formants for girls. There was a decrease in the frequencies values of the first three formants with age. The results recommended grouping of G1 and G2, and they showed a clear difference between this new formed group and G4. In the age groups of 5-year old to 6 years 11 months (G2 and G3) and 6-year old to 7 years 11 months (G3 and G4), there were statistically significant changes that were random for parameter and vowel. There was a decrease in the frequencies values of the first three formants with age. CONCLUSION: Formant frequencies showed a tendency to differentiate genders and their absolute values were in general higher in girls. Age increases showed decreases in formant frequencies. Tests for statistical differences led to grouping of G1 and G2 and a clear difference between this new formed group and G4. The comparison between G2 and G3 and G3 and G4 showed random changes. The changes during this age period (5-year old to 7 years 11 months) were attributed to a transition stage of acoustic measurements in children. As formant frequencies vary according to structural and postural aspects of the vocal tract and speech organs, their study in healthy children contributes for the understanding of the development of the pediatric phonation system, in addition to offering a reference data set for future studies of children with vocal disorders that can potentially impact the resonance system.

Estudo comparativo das medidas de imitância acústicas em tabagistas e não tabagistas / Comparative study of acoustic immittance in smokers and non-smokers

OBJETIVO: realizar um estudo comparativo das medidas de imitância acústica em tabagistas e não tabagistas, visando identificar a ocorrência de um comportamento específico na população tabagista. MÉTODOS: em uma amostra 80 indivíduos, 40 tabagistas e 40 não tabagistas, foram obtidos o volume do meato acústico externo, a admitância, a pressão de pico e o gradiente. RESULTADOS: os resultados mostraram que pressão de pico apresentou diferença significante entre os grupos, revelando-se mais negativa no grupo dos tabagistas, tanto para a orelha direita (p=0,004) quanto para a esquerda (p=0,011). Nas demais medidas investigadas não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas. CONCLUSÃO: Desta forma, o presente estudo conclui que a pressão do pico do timpanograma é uma medida imitanciométrica capaz de diferenciar tabagistas e não tabagistas, sendo que nos tabagistas a pressão mostra-se significantemente mais negativa. .

PURPOSE: to conduct a comparative study of the acoustic impedance measurements in smokers and nonsmokers, in order to identify the occurrence of specific behavior in the smoking population. METHODS: in a sample of 80 individuals, namely 40 smokers and 40 nonsmokers, we obtained the outer acoustic meatus volume, the admittance, the peak pressure and the gradient. RESULTS: the results showed that the peak pressure presented a significant difference between the groups, revealing itself more negative in the group of smokers, both for the right ear (p=0.004) and for the left ear (p=0.011). CONCLUSION This study concludes that the peak pressure of the tympanogram is an immittance measure able to differentiate smokers and nonsmokers, where smokers show significantly more negative pressures. .

The voice in transsexuals / La voz en los transexuales

Sex reassignment therapy, i.e. the process of transition in transgender clients, as a rule also includes voice therapy and as such the contribution of a speech language pathologist. Voice therapy in transgender clients is special, however, and is significantly different from what is usually understood by voice therapy in speech language pathology. As transsexualism is becoming more and more accepted in society, more speech language pathologists have a chance of being called upon for helping transsexual clients. The present paper is meant as an introduction to voice therapy in transgender clients. Based on a review of the literature and personal experience various procedures and treatment options are discussed

La terapia de reasignación sexual, es decir, el proceso de transición en clientes transexuales, incluye también como norma la terapia de voz y, por tanto, la mediación de un patólogo del habla y lenguaje. Sin embargo, la terapia de voz en los clientes transexuales es diferente a lo que normalmente entendemos como terapia de voz en la patología del habla y lenguaje. A medida que la sociedad va aceptando más la transexualidad se incrementa la posibilidad de que los patólogos del habla y lenguaje sean requeridos para ayudar a los clientes transexuales. El presente documento constituye una introducción a la terapia de voz en los pacientes transexuales. Basándonos en una revisión de la literatura y la experiencia personal, abordamos diversos procedimientos y opciones de tratamiento

Pitch characteristics of homosexual males.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the common stereotype that homosexual males show pitch patterns that mirror those of heterosexual females. STUDY DESIGN: Static group comparison. METHOD: Comparison of speaking fundamental frequency and pitch variation of 30 homosexual males, 56 heterosexual age-matched males, and 54 age-matched heterosexual females as demonstrated in a sample of read speech. RESULTS: In the homosexual males, average fundamental frequency and pitch variation were significantly higher than in the heterosexual males but also significantly lower than in the heterosexual females. CONCLUSIONS: Results do not confirm the stereotype that gay male speech mirrors the patterns of women's speech with respect to pitch characteristics. It would seem that the pitch patterns of gay male speakers constitute an example of sociophonetic variation.

Parâmetros espectrais da voz em crianças respiradoras orais / Spectral parameters on voices of mouth-breathing children

OBJETIVO: investigar parâmetros espectrais (f0 e formantes) descritivos da voz de crianças respiradoras orais, visando contribuir na caracterização desta população e, consequentemente, na efetividade do diagnóstico. MÉTODOS: foram selecionadas 50 crianças respiradoras orais e 101 crianças com respiração nasal de ambos os gêneros entre cinco e dez anos. Os sinais de fala foram obtidos a partir das gravações de sentenças-veículo e os segmentos das vogais orais [a], [i] e [u] do português falado no Brasil em posição tônica foram selecionados para a estimação da frequência fundamental (f0) e da frequência dos três primeiros formantes (F1, F2 e F3). O software Praat foi utilizado para gravar, recortar e processar os sinais. RESULTADOS: a frequência fundamental das vogais [i] e [u] apresentou-se menor nos respiradores orais, enquanto que a frequência de F1 da vogal [u] foi mais elevada no mesmo grupo. CONCLUSÃO: a partir dos resultados expostos, concluiu-se que a frequência fundamental consiste em um parâmetro vocal que auxilia na diferenciação de crianças respiradores orais e respiradoras nasais, contribuindo, desta forma para uma caracterização mais efetiva do respirador oral.

PURPOSE: to investigate spectral parameters on voices of mouth-breathing children so as to contribute to the characterization of this population, thus to an efficient diagnosis. METHODS: fifty mouth-breathing children and one hundred and one nasal breathing children were selected among five and ten year old children of both genders. Recordings were obtained from carrier phrases and segments of the oral vowels [a], [i] and [u] of Brazilian Portuguese in the stressed syllable were selected to estimate the fundamental frequency (f0) and the frequency of the first three formants (F1, F2 e F3). The signals were recorded, cut out and processed using Praat software. RESULTS: the fundamental frequency for the vowels [i] and [u] showed lower frequency in the mouth-breathing group, while the frequency F1 of the vowel [u] was higher in the same group. CONCLUSION: our findings pointed out that the fundamental frequency is a vocal parameter that helps us to differentiate mouth-breathing children from nasal breathers, therefore contributing for a mouth breathing classification system.

Frequência fundamental das 7 vogais orais do português em vozes de crianças / Fundamental frequency of seven oral vowels of Portuguese in children voices

OBJETIVO: investigar as medidas de frequência fundamental das 7 vogais orais do português em crianças saudáveis entre 4 e 8 anos. MÉTODOS: foram selecionadas através de triagem da expressão oral e avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz, 207 crianças de ambos os sexos, que foram divididas por faixa etária. Os sinais de fala foram obtidos a partir das gravações de sentenças-veículo. Foram selecionados segmentos das 7 vogais orais do português falado no Brasil em posição tônica para a estimação das medidas de frequência fundamental. O recorte e processamento dos sinais foram realizados com o auxílio do software Praat. RESULTADOS: os achados foram expostos por meio de valores médios do parâmetro investigado, sendo observado um decréscimo na frequência fundamental com o aumento da idade. A idade de seis anos foi apontada como determinante para as mudanças acústicas das vocalizações infantis. CONCLUSÃO: os valores paramétricos apontados consistem em uma importante contribuição para a língua portuguesa falada no Brasil. A idade de seis anos deve ser considerada em futuros trabalhos que investiguem vozes infantis.

PURPOSE: to investigate fundamental frequency of the 7 oral vowels of Brazilian Portuguese on voices of healthy children between four and eight year old. METHODS: two hundred and seven children of both genders were select by speech tasks and by a voice auditory-perceptive analysis. They were separated by age groups. Recordings were obtained from carrier phrases and segments of the seven oral vowels of Brazilian Portuguese in the stressed syllable were selected to estimate the fundamental frequency. Praat Software was used to cut and process these recordings. RESULTS: our findings showed medium values for the parameter investigated and we observed that the fundamental frequency values decreased as age increased. We pointed out that acoustical changes on voice of children can be determinate at the age of six years. CONCLUSION: The found parametric values consist of an important contribution to the Portuguese language, spoken in Brazil. The age of six years should be considered in futures works that investigate children voices.

Longitudinal study of the fundamental frequency of hunger cries along the first 6 months of healthy babies.

SUMMARY: Potentially rich in information, the baby's cry has motivated several researches along the years. Although most of these studies have generated important knowledge about the baby's cry, they were focused on the neonatal period. The few longitudinal studies on changes in the acoustical features of the cry over the baby's growth have been done with a small sample and a large recording interval. Aiming to overcome such methodological limitations, this work investigated hunger cries using a more representative sample size (30 babies) and time resolution (biweekly intervals) from birth to 6 months of baby's age. The findings indicate that the fundamental frequency (f0) of the cry signals did vary more than previously reported in the literature. The results showed a widespread oscillatory behavior in f0 evolution along all the 6 months with an especially significant decrease from birth to the 15th day of life. The present results are not clinically applicable yet, but they pointed some novel aspects of the f0 mean values along the baby's growth. These findings and further longitudinal studies can help standardize age-related cry parameters, which are essential for medical and language development researches.