Using electroglottographic real-time feedback to control posterior glottal adduction during phonation

Area of Science:

• Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Vocal Pedagogy
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• Habitually breathy voice is often associated with incomplete glottal closure.
• Posterior glottal adduction (PGA) is crucial for achieving vocal fold closure.
• Electroglottography (EGG) provides real-time feedback on glottal function.

Observation:

• A subject with a breathy voice and posterior glottal chink was trained to increase PGA using EGG feedback.
• The subject learned to modify the EGG waveform after understanding its relevance and reviewing exercises.
• Changes in the EGG waveform correlated with increased high-frequency partials and improved PGA.

Findings:

• Real-time EGG feedback can facilitate the acquisition of voluntary control over posterior glottal adduction (PGA).
• Effective use of EGG feedback requires clear explanation of its context and nature, alongside proper vocal instruction.
• Full glottal closure was achieved at specific pitches (B3, B4), and a reduction in the posterior glottal chink was observed at G5.

Implications:

• Electroglottography (EGG) is a valuable tool for voice training, particularly for improving glottal closure.
• This pilot study suggests that PGA control can be learned with appropriate biofeedback and instruction.
• Further research is needed to explore EGG sensitivity across different phonation types, especially falsetto.