ERIC Number: EJ1247475
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Feb
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Relative Fundamental Frequency in Children with and without Vocal Fold Nodules
Murray, Elizabeth S. Heller; Segina, Roxanne K.; Woodnorth, Geralyn Harvey; Stepp, Cara E.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v63 n2 p361-371 Feb 2020
Purpose: Relative fundamental frequency (RFF) is an acoustic measure that is sensitive to functional voice differences in adults. The aim of the current study was to evaluate RFF in children, as there are known structural and functional differences between the pediatric and adult vocal mechanisms. Method: RFF was analyzed in 28 children with vocal fold nodules (CwVN, M = 9.0 years) and 28 children with typical voices (CwTV, M = 8.9 years). RFF is the instantaneous fundamental frequency (f[subscript 0]) of the 10 vocalic cycles during devoicing (vocal offset) and 10 vocalic cycles during the revoicing (vocal onset) of the vowels that surround a voiceless consonant. Each cycle's f[subscript 0] was normalized to a steady-state portion of the vowel. RFF values for the cycles closest to the voiceless consonant, that is, Offset Cycle 10 and Onset Cycle 1, were examined. Results: Average RFF values for Offset Cycle 10 and Onset Cycle 1 did not differ between CwVN and CwTV; however, within-subject variability of Offset Cycle 10 was decreased in CwVN. Across both groups, male children had lower Offset Cycle 10 RFF values as compared to female children. Additionally, Onset Cycle 1 values were decreased in younger children as compared to those of older children. Conclusions: Unlike previous work with adults, CwVN did not have significantly different RFF values than CwTV. Younger children had lower RFF values for Onset Cycle 1 than older children, suggesting that vocal onset f[subscript 0] may provide information on the maturity of the laryngeal motor system.
Descriptors: Acoustics, Measurement, Children, Evaluation Methods, Phonemes, Vowels, Age Differences, Psychomotor Skills, Gender Differences, Voice Disorders
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A