Ref#: BS10 Heterozygous Abnormalities of the Elastin Gene (ELN) Effect Vocal Fold Structure

Previous research found a relation between hormones and voice quality; however, the degree and type of this relationship is poorly understood, particularly regarding singing. Singers’ performances can be affected by contraceptive pills and by changes in concentrations of sex steroid hormones during the menstrual cycle (Lã et al., 2007). Pregnancy shows greater variation in concentrations of these sex hormones and more significant tissue modifications (e.g. cervix) than the menstrual cycle. According to previous studies, a significant correlation between cervical and vocal fold smears exists (Abitbol et al., 1999, 2000); hence, the singing voice can also be affected during pregnancy. Changes in the mechanical properties of the cervical tissue during pregnancy might also occur in laryngeal tissues, affecting conditions for phonation with respect to vocal fold motility and voice timbre. Twenty-four weekly recordings of audio, electrolaryngograph, oral pressure and air flow signals were made of a classical singer, before birth (Prae), 48 hours after birth (At), and during 11 subsequent weeks (Post). A Lied and a diminuendo sequence of the syllable [pa] were performed. LTAS alpha ratio was analysed of the Lied; phonation and collision threshold pressures (PTP and CTP) were determined from the oral pressure (Enflo and Sundberg, 2009); the flow signal was inverse filtered to compute normalised amplitude quotient (NAQ). Pregnancy was associated with greater week-to-week variation and higher alpha; higher PTP and CTP; and lower NAQ. This suggests that pregnancy affects both biomechanical vocal fold properties and voice production conditions. Filipa Lã, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Communication and Arts, INET-MD, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal, [email protected] Johan Sundberg, PhD, Professor, Speech Music Hearing, School of Computer Science and Communication, TMH/KTH, SE-10044, Stockholm, [email protected] Ref#: BS24 How Many Frames per Second are Necessary when Using High-Speed Videoendoscopy in Voice Assessment? Dimitar D. Deliyski, Terri Treman Gerlach, Habib J. Moukalled, Kimberly S. Hufnagel, Shannon R. Batson Abstract The lack of practical guidelines is one of the main factors delaying the clinical implementation of high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) for voice assessment. In particular, the insufficient frame rates of current HSV systems have been shown to bias clinically-relevant features. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the HSV frame rates relate to visually-observed degradation in clinically-relevant vocal-fold vibratory characteristics. Fourteen patients and fourteen vocally-normal speakers were recorded using HSV at 16,000 frames per second (fps) as they produced the vowel /i/ sustained at habitual pitch and loudness, and at higher pitch. The following vocal-fold vibratory features with known vulnerability to the camera speed were studied: mucosal wave magnitude and extent; amplitude and phase asymmetry; glottal area aperiodicity; glottal edge roughness; realization and loss of vocal-fold contact; and mucus bridges breaking at opening. One habitualand one high-pitch sample were taken from two male and two female subjects selected from the dataset that best represented each vibratory feature. The selected 16,000 fps samples were then downsampled fully emulating the characteristics of the camera at sixteen lower-rate denominations. Using custom-designed software, four raters visually reported for each feature (total 4,608 ratings) the frame rates at which: (1) a difference between the original and degraded samples was first noticed; and (2) the feature disappeared or became hard to visually rate. The results elucidate on the optimal and minimum recommendations for HSV technology in the clinical settings, relating the frame rate requirements to the clinical protocol, in particular to the pitch produced. Dimitar D. Deliyski, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director Voice and Speech Lab, University of South Carolina, Communication Sciences and Disorders, 1621 Greene Street, 6th floor, Columbia, SC 29208, (803)777-2245, [email protected] Terri Treman Gerlach, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, Director Voice & Swallowing, Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat Associates, 6035 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28210, (704)295-3348, [email protected] Habib J. Moukalled, M.S., Doctoral Student, University of South Carolina, Computer Science and Engineering, 315 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, (864)201-7511, [email protected] Kimberly S. Hufnagel, B.S., Master Student, University of South Carolina, Communication Sciences and Disorders, 1621 Greene Street, 6th floor, Columbia, SC 29208, (586)524-9498, [email protected] Shannon R. Batson, B.S., Master Student, University of South Carolina, Communication Sciences and Disorders, 1621 Greene Street, 6th floor, Columbia, SC 29208, (864)386-0783, [email protected]