Dollen Tabri

Speech perception in noise by monolingual, bilingual and trilingual listeners

BACKGROUND There is strong evidence that bilinguals have a deficit in speech perception for their second language compared with monolingual speakers under unfavourable listening conditions (e.g., noise or reverberation), despite performing similarly to monolingual speakers under quiet conditions. This deficit persists for speakers highly proficient in their second language and is greater in those who learned the language later in life. These findings have important educational implications because the number of multilingual children is increasing worldwide, and many of these children are being taught in their non-native language under poor classroom acoustic conditions. AIMS The performance of monolingual, bilingual and trilingual speakers on an English speech perception task was examined in both quiet and noisy conditions. Trilingual performance was compared with that of monolingual and bilingual speakers. METHODS & PROCEDURES Monolingual speakers of English and early bilingual and trilingual speakers (i.e., acquired English as a second/third language before the age of 6 years) were recruited. Their fluency in English was tested by interview and by a questionnaire assessing their knowledge and use of the language. Audiological evaluation confirmed normal hearing in all participants. English speech perception was tested in quiet and in different levels of noise (50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 dB SPL) using the Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) Test. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Bilingual and trilingual listeners performed similarly to monolingual listeners in quiet conditions, but their performance declined more rapidly in noise and was significantly poorer at 65 and 70 dB SPL. Trilingual listeners performed less well than bilinguals at these noise levels, but not significantly so. A subgroup of five bilingual speakers who learned Arabic and English simultaneously since birth were poorer at higher levels of noise than monolinguals, but not significantly so. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS The results replicate previous findings of poorer speech perception in noise with bilingual speakers compared with monolinguals and extend the findings to trilingual speakers.

Relationship between acoustic parameters and body mass analysis in young males.

PURPOSE To analyze the correlation between acoustic parameters and body height, weight, and mass composition in young males. MATERIAL A total of 40 male subjects were included in this study. Each subject underwent acoustic analysis using the Kay Elemetric VISI Pitch (Model 3300, KayPentax, Lincoln Park, NJ) and complete body mass analysis. Pearson correlation was calculated to estimate the strength of the relationship between acoustic parameters and each of the weight analysis variables. RESULTS The mean age of the male subjects was 24 years with a range between 18 and 40 years. The average weight and height were almost 80 and 180cm, with standard deviation (SD) of 7.42 and 10.46, respectively. The fat weight ranged between 3 and 25kg, with the main concentration being in the extremities, 61.84%±17.4 and less concentrated in the trunk, 16.20% ± 7.6. The mean fundamental frequency was 120.13Hz with an SD of 19.16Hz. The mean Habitual Pitch was 114.16Hz with an SD of 16.55Hz. There was no significant correlation between the acoustic parameters and any of the body composition variables, in particular fat weight and distribution. There was a weak correlation between Shimmer, trunk fat (r value=0.328, P=0.039), and muscle mass (r value=0.326, P=0.038). CONCLUSION The body mass composition and distribution do not correlate significantly with the fundamental frequency and the Habitual pitch.

Glottal contact quotient in Mediterranean tongue trill

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of a Mediterranean tongue trill (Zalghouta) on estimated glottal closed quotient (CQ). MATERIAL AND METHOD A total of 10 female subjects participated in this study. Vocal fold CQ was measured for both sustained vowel [a] and the tongue trill named Zlaghouta using electroglottography. Frequencies and means (±standard deviation) were used to describe categorical and continuous variables, respectively. The Wilcoxon signed nonparametric test was used to determine any significant changes in CQ means pretrill and during trill. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in the mean CQ during the Mediterranean tongue trill (Zalghouta) versus the sustained vowel [a] (P value of 0.002) by 15.98. When stratified by training status there was a significant decrease for the trained group (P value of 0.031) and a nonsignificant decrease for the untrained group (P value of 0.125). CONCLUSION Zalghouta induces a decrease in the vocal fold contact time. The potential benefits of the Mediterranean tongue trill in vocal therapy need consideration.

Formant Frequency in Relation to Body Mass Composition

OBJECTIVES This study examines the relationship between total body mass composition and vowel formant frequency and formant dispersion in men. METHODS A total of 60 healthy male volunteers were recruited. Formant frequencies and dispersions of F1, F2, F3, and F4 for the vowels /ɑː/ and /iː/ were determined using spectrographic analysis. RESULTS The mean height and weight were 179.17 cm and 80.53 kg, respectively, with fat-free weight averaging to 67.02 kg (65.5% in the extremities vs 16.7% in the trunk). The body mass index (BMI) was 25.5 ± 3.34 kg/m(2). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1 and F4 correlated poorly with weight and trunk fat-free mass. There was also a poor negative correlation between F4 and muscle mass and body fat-free mass (r < 0.36). For the /iː/ vowel, there was a weak negative correlation between F2, F3, and F4 and height (r = -0.260, -0.299, and -0.320, respectively). Similarly, there was a negative correlation between F2 and muscle mass, trunk fat-free mass, and body fat-free mass (r = -0.291, -0.276, and -0.272, respectively). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1-F2 interspace correlated positively with fat weight, fat mass in the extremities, and trunk (r = 0.313, 0.350, and 0.264, respectively), whereas F2-F3 negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.255). For the /iː/ vowel, only F1-F2 negatively correlated with weight and BMI (r = -0.297 and -0.281). CONCLUSION There is no significant correlation between body mass composition, formant frequencies, and dispersions. All the correlations were poor with r values less than 0.36.

Vocal Changes in Patients Using Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

The aim of this prospective study is to assess the vocal changes in patients using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A total of 18 subjects using nasal CPAP were assessed by grading their voice perceptually as G0 for normal voice and G3 for severe hoarseness. Acoustic analysis was also performed and the following parameters were measured: fundamental frequency, habitual pitch, shimmer, relative average perturbation, voice turbulence index, and noise-to-harmonic ratio. The same was done for a control group matched according to age and gender. There was a statistically significant difference in the perceptual evaluation between the CPAP group and controls, with more patients in the former group having moderate hoarseness. There was also an increase in the perturbation parameters and a decrease in the fundamental frequency and habitual pitch in the CPAP group compared to controls. The increase in shimmer was statistically significant. The usage of nasal CPAP seems to induce vocal changes that are perceived as mild to moderate hoarseness, together with an increase in the perturbation parameters. These seem to be secondary to the upper airway dryness reported in these patients. The hypothetical effect of nasal CPAP on the sol layer of the vocal folds is discussed.

Formant frequencies in Middle Eastern singers

PURPOSE This work was conducted to describe the formant frequencies in a group of Middle Eastern singers and to look for the presence of the singers formant described in operatic singers. MATERIAL A total of 13 Middle Eastern singers were enrolled in this study. There were 5 men and 8 women. METHOD Descriptive analysis was performed to report the various formants (F1, F2, F3, and F4) in both speaking and singing. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the means of the formants under both conditions. RESULTS For both sexes combined, for the /a/ vowel, F1 singing was significantly lower than F1 speaking (P = .05) and F3 singing was significantly higher than F3 speaking (P = .046). For the /u/ vowel, only F2 singing was significantly higher than F2 speaking (P = .012). For the /i/ vowel, both F2 and F3 singing were significantly lower than F2 and F3 speaking, respectively (P = .006 and .012, respectively). There was no clustering of the formants in any of the Middle Eastern sung vowels. CONCLUSION Formant frequencies for the vowels /a/, /i/, and /u/ differ between Middle Eastern singing vs speaking. There is absence of the singers formant.

Formants Frequency and Dispersion in Relation to the Length and Projection of the Upper and Lower Jaws

OBJECTIVE Investigate the association between formants frequencies and length and sagittal projection of the maxilla and mandible. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHOD A total of 47 consecutive patients were recruited. Craniofacial measures included; maxillary length (ANS-PNS), mandibular length (Co-Gn), relationship between maxilla and mandible in the sagittal plane (ANB), the sagittal projection of the maxilla (SNA), and mandible (SNB). Subjects were asked to phonate vowels /a/, /i/, /o/, and /u/. Measurements were made in real-time and formant frequencies across F1, F2, F3, and F4 were determined. RESULTS There was a significant negative association between the length of the maxilla and F4 for all the vowels, and a significant negative association between the length of the mandible and F4 for vowels /o/ and /u/. The length of maxilla and mandible also negatively associated with F3 for vowels /a/, /i/, /o/, and vowels /i/, /o/, and /u/ respectively. For the first two formants, the negative association was less pronounced. CONCLUSION There was a significant negative association between the formant frequencies F3, F4, and the length of the mandible and maxilla for vowels /a/, /i/, /o/, and /u/.

Correlation between the length and sagittal projection of the upper and lower jaw and the fundamental frequency

OBJECTIVE To report on the correlation between the length and projection of the upper and lower jaw and the fundamental frequency (F0). STUDY DESIGN Prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 45 healthy subjects were included in this study. The facial skeletal measurements included: SNA, SNB, ANB, angles that reflect the position of the maxilla and mandible in relation to the base of skull and to each others, length of mandible Co-Gn, and length of maxilla PNS-ANS. All subjects underwent acoustic analysis using VISI-PITCH IV. RESULTS The means for F0 and habitual frequency were 220.75 + 40.01 Hz and 216.99 + 43.9 Hz, respectively. The means for SNA, SNB, and ANB were 80.753 ± 3.20, 77.409 ± 3.64, and 3.336 ± 2.57, respectively. The mean length of the mandible and maxilla were 104.28 + 7.94 and 50.29 + 3.94, respectively. In the total group, there was a moderate negative correlation between F0 and habitual frequency and the length of the mandible (r = -0.528 and -0.577, respectively). There was also a moderate negative correlation between F0 and habitual frequency and the length of the maxilla (r = -0.473 and -0.519, respectively). Similar findings were present after excluding the pubertal subjects. With respect to the other cephalometric measurements, the correlation was poor (r value < 0.3). CONCLUSIONS There is a moderate negative correlation between the length of the upper and lower jaw and the average F0 and habitual frequency. The remaining facial sagittal projection parameters do not correlate with the average F0 and habitual frequency.

Association Between Facial Length and Width and Fundamental Frequency

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the association between facial width and length and fundamental frequency (F0) and habitual frequency. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS A total of 50 subjects (35 females;15 males) were included in this study. METHODS Lateral and posteroanterior cephalometric measurements included: facial height (N-Me); widths of the maxilla (J-J), mandible (AG-AG), and face (Zyg-Zyg); ratios J-J to AG-AG, N-Me to Zyg-Zyg, and lower face to total face heights. All subjects underwent acoustic analysis using Visi-Pitch IV. Sample was stratified according to age and gender. RESULTS In the total group (mean age: 14.19±6.49 years; range 6-35 years), a significantly moderate negative correlation existed between Zyg-Zyg, J-J, and AG-AG, and F0 and habitual pitch. Similarly, N-Me moderately correlated with habitual pitch. In males, there was a significant moderate negative correlation between Zyg-Zyg and J-J, and habitual pitch, and between J-J and F0 (-0.571;p=0.026). In females, a significant moderate correlation existed between Zyg-Zyg and AG-AG, and habitual pitch, and between AG-AG and F0 (-0.347;p=0.041). In the prepubertal group (n=25), a negative moderate correlation occurred between J-J and AG-AG, N-Me and habitual frequency, and between J-J and F0 (-0.407;p=0.043). In the postpubertal group, there was a significant moderate correlation only between AG-AG and F0 (-0.403;p=0.046). CONCLUSION Facial length correlates significantly with habitual frequency, and facial width correlates significantly with both F0 and habitual pitch. A larger sample of adult subjects is needed to substantiate this conclusion.

Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Voice

Purpose The purpose of this article was to investigate the relationship between low level of vitamin D, phonatory symptoms, and acoustic findings. Method A total of 38 subjects presenting to the endocrinology clinic were enrolled in 2 groups: 19 with vitamin D deficiency who were not on treatment, and 19 with normal vitamin D level who were on treatment. Demographic data included age, gender, and history of smoking. All patients were asked about the presence or absence of dysphonia, degree of phonatory effort, and vocal fatigue. Acoustic analysis and perceptual evaluation using the grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain scale were performed on all subjects. Results The mean age of the total group was 47.29 ± 13.52 years. The difference in the mean and frequency of phonatory effort, vocal fatigue, and dysphonia, and in the mean of the acoustic variables, perceptual parameters, and the score of the Voice Handicap Index-10 was not statistically significant between patients with low vitamin D levels compared with controls. Conclusion The results of this study revealed no significant difference in the prevalence of phonatory symptoms in patients with vitamin D deficiency compared with patients with no vitamin D deficiency. A larger study is needed to substantiate the difference in the prevalence of phonatory systems between the 2 groups.