Modal vocal frequency clwracteristics of normal speaking and voice defective children were compared via striation counting (Magna See) and oscillographic measurement procedures. The results of the experiment suggest tlwt the striation counting procedure is a useful, valid and reliable method for estimating fundamental frequency values from sustained vowels. a simple counting task, or from sentence contexts. The use of the Magna See technique is an inexpensive alternative to more costly instruments for clinical assessment of vocal frequency clwracteristics of voice disordered patients. The increasing demands for accountability by the speech-language pathologist have led to an increased interest in the quantitative assessment of laryngeal function. This interest is centered upon the need to correlate acoustical and physiological characteristics of laryngeal action with perceptual attributes of the voice. One important part of a voice evaluation is the detennination of modal vocal frequency and vocal frequency range. Many sophisticated instruments and analysis techniques are available to detennine vocal frequency (Hollein and Tamburrino, 1965; Horii, 1975; Davis, 1981). However, for most evaluations, the cost, time, and technology necessary to operate these computer-assisted instruments are unrealistic for the clinician in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or school setting. Less complicated instruments have also been developed to measure fundamental frequency. Some of the earlier models, such as the f'urdue Pitch Meter (Dempsey, et al., 1950) or Florida I (Holbrook and Meador, 1969) are not currently commercially available. Some instruments currently marketed employ a bandpass filter system to analyze frequency. These devices typically operate within rather broad frequency bandwidths and display a frequency signal on a meter that is not designed to yield a precise visual representation of the fundamental frequency. Other instruments (Visipitch; Vocal ll) correct many of the problems of earlier "pitchmeters" by using a digital display, but are still relatively expensive for a speech pathologist's budget. The determination of the patient's most appropriate pitch range is a difficult task to perform for many musically naive speech pathologists. One solution to this problem is to teach the professional how to estimate vocal frequency by making comparative perceptual judgments concerning the pitch of the voice from a chromatic pitch pipe and then convert these musical notes to frequency values within the talker's appropriate pitch range. While relatively simple to perform, this pitch matching technique presents its own unique problems. That is, for many musically unsophisticated students and professionals, the use of an auditoryperceptual vocal pitch matching procedure via piano keyboard or pitch pipe may lead to errors in judgements of the appropriate pitch range by as much as one octave. Boone(l971) recognized the problem and stated that" ... fundamental frequency values will be more or Human Communication!Communication Humaine 6 (Spring) 1981 15 HUMAN COMMUNICATION, SPRING, 1981 less gross, depending upon our techniques such as those suggested by Fairbanks (1960) and Moncur and Brackett (1975)." Another solution to the problem is to find an easily obtainable, inexpensive, and reliable method of obtaining fundamental frequency of the voice. Such a method was first described by Black (1949) when he introduced a procedure for obtaining fundamental frequency by counting the vertical striations on magnetic recording tape. These striations appeared after immersion of the tape in a compound of iron filings. The vertical striations represented individual cycles of the basic vocal frequency recorded on the tape. More recently, Kelly and Sansone (1981), using a modem version (3M Plastiform Magnetic Tape Viewer) of Black's technique, analyzed the vocal frequency of normal adults and children. Their procedure utilized a small, flat, sealed disc filled with liquified iron fillings. This disc, when placed over a portion of magnetic tape upon which some signal had been recorded, produced a facsimile of the vertical striations placed on the tape from a transduction of the voice signal from the microphone to the recording head of the tape recorder. These striations were converted to frequency and/or musical notation by the researchers and were compared with vocal frequency measurement obtained from another frequency analysis system (Kay Sonograph). Kelly and Sansone (1981) reported vocal frequency values for normal adults and children that correlated well with previous research with more sophisticated instruments. They suggested that further research using this technique needed to be conducted with children and adults with voice deviations. School age children commonly present voice deviations and would profit from more objective analysis by the physician and speech clinician (Leeper, Leonard and Iverson, 1980). Leeper (1976) and Leeper and Iverson (1977) have also suggested that children with vocal nodules possess voice characteristics that differ significantly from normal. These authors have indicated that children with vocal fold pathologies may demonstrate a restricted vocal frequency, hard glottal attack, inefficient glottal closure, and intermittent laryngeal hyperfunction. While some preliminary data are available to describe aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of the voices of normal children, to date only Leeper, Iverson and Horii (1978) have reported speaking fundamental frequency data for both normal speaking children and children with vocal nodules and accompanying voice problems. Further, no data have been reported to support the use of a clinical method of measuring vocal frequency in voice defective children without the aid of expensive computer-assisted equipment. The present investigation was designed to describe a simple, inexpensive striation counting procedure (Magna See) for obtaining fundamental frequency values from sustained vowel and contextual speech samples for normal children and vocally deviant children with vocal nodules.

This article deals with a description of techniques used to assess patients with dysarthria of speech and accompanying velopharyngeal incompetence. A survey of perceptual and instrumental methods for assessing speech proficiency pre· and post-palatal /ift placement are discussed. Emphasis is placed upon the continuing evaluation of respiratory, phonatory, resonatory and articulatory components of speech for the effective application of the lift appliance. A representative patient is presented to illustrate the evaluation process.

The effects of intelligibility and consistency on the recognition accuracy of a speaker-adaptable speech recognition system (IBM VoiceType Version 1.0) were evaluated. Six participants who had dysarthria of speech across three severity levels (i.e., mild, moderate, severe) and six age- and gender-matched peers without speech impairments participated in the study. Productions of sentences were evaluated across five assessment sessions. Recognition accuracy was significantly higher for the speakers in the control group than for the speakers with dysarthria across severity levels. High levels of intelligibility correlated significantly with high recognition accuracy scores. Perceptual rankings of speech consistency did not correlate significantly with recognition accuracy scores. Results suggest that for speaker-adaptable systems, the more intelligible a speaker, the greater his or her success with the voice recognition system. Results also suggest that perceived inconsistencies in the speech productions of dysarthric speakers may not limit their use of a speaker-adaptable speech recognition system.computer recognition dysarthria speech impairment speech recognition voice recognition

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative neuromuscular disease that involves the upper and lower motor neurons. Damage to the lower motor neurons is manifested by muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle atrophy, and fasciculations, whereas upper motor neuron damage is manifested by spasticity, muscle weakness, cramping, increased tone, and hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes. Upper and/or lower motor involvement may occur during the course of the disease, but eventually, both systems are involved. At initial presentation, individuals are described primarily as being either bulbar or nonbulbar, as determined by presence or absence of neuromotor symptoms. Usually, bulbar signs are typified by rapid deterioration, while nonbulbar signs point to slightly slower deterioration, especially of the cranial nerves affecting oral-pharyngeal-laryngeal motor coordination and speech production. Progressive deterioration of the oral, velopharyngeal, and laryngeal subsystems serving speech leads to speech production difficulties and decreased speech intelligibility in individuals with ALS. Major characteristics of speech difficulties include imprecise articulation, hypernasality and nasal air emission, strained-strangled, harsh, breathy, low-pitch and low intensity voice production, and slow speaking rate. These characteristics may occur in different individuals at various times throughout the course of the disease. Acoustical and aerodynamic assessment of voice and speech production are useful in early detection, differential categorization, and the monitoring of deterioration of speech in individuals with ALS. Further, differential speech subsystem assessment of subgroups of individuals with bulbar and nonbulbar signs may lead to better management strategies of these groups of individuals relative to `quality of life' issues. This series of experiments characterizes acoustical and aerodynamic changes in speech deterioration of individuals with bulbar and nonbulbar signs which may allow for specific management strategies over time.

This study relates over time the changes in voluntary opening and closing of the vocal folds (vocal fold diadochokinesis, or VFDDK) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The rate, pattern, and periodicity of VFDDK were examined for 12 ALS subjects with bulbar and 14 subjects with nonbulbar signs of the disease. The acoustical data were analyzed with a commercially available computer-based speech analysis system. ALS patients with bulbar and nonbulbar symptoms demonstrate reduced rate and aperiodic VFDDK as the symptomatology of the neuromotor system progresses. Individuals with bulbar signs show a greater change in vocal fold activity than do the nonbulbar group. Discussion of the clinical implications for initial diagnosis and monitoring of changes over time in motor control of laryngeal function is presented.

Seven consecutive male patients who received a vertical hemilaryngectomy were examined for vocal function employing video-stroboscopic, aerodynamic and acoustic measurement techniques. The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that with the group of patients studied, vocal quality was rated as "rough", "breathy" and "constricted". While large variability was noted between individuals, the general tendencies for the group included: (a) incomplete glottic closure; (b) supraglottic structures (ventricular folds, arytenoids) fulfilled or aided vibratory action of the remaining fold; (c) high average transglottal airflow; (d) reduced maximum phonation time; (e) high and more variable vocal frequency positioned near the top of the frequency range; (f) a lower, more variable, and restricted vocal intensity range, and (g) a reduced vocal fold diadochokinetic (vocal fold opening and closing action) rate. We are currently attempting to determine factors related to individual patient strategies for using either glottic or supraglottic valving during phonation.

A survey of the speech and voice skills of 999 middle-school (grades six to eight) children was conducted in a rural, university-based community. Seventeen percent of this population demonstrated inadequate voice, articulation, or fluency. The results indicate a need for continued management of youngsters with communicative disorders through the middle-school grades.