A mathematical model for accurate measurement of jitter

Jitter is a fundamental metric of voice quality. The majority of jitter estimators produce an average value over a duration of several pitch periods. This paper proposes a method for short-time jitter measurement, based on a mathematical model which describes the coupling of two periodic phenomena. The movement of one of the two periodic phenomena with respect to the other is what is considered as jitter and what the proposed method measures. Through tests with synthetic jitter signals it has been verified that the suggested method provides accurate local estimates of jitter. Further evaluation was conducted on actual normal and pathological voice signals from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) Disordered Voice Database. Compared with corresponding parameters from the Multi-Dimension Voice Program (MDVP) and the Praat system, the proposed method outperformed both in normal vs. pathological voice discrimination.