Acoustic Analysis and Electroglottography in Elite Vocal Performers

Area of Science:

• Vocal acoustics and voice disorder diagnostics.
• Speech-language pathology and audiology research.

Background:

• Acoustic analysis of voice (AAV) and electroglottography (EGG) are established methods for voice quality assessment.
• Their utility in detecting subtle vocal changes in elite performers remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare AAV and EGG in identifying vocal improvements in elite performers after training.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of these methods for this specific population.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-three elite vocal performers (14 male, 19 female, ages 18-40) without prior voice disorders participated.
• Acoustic parameters were measured using AAV and EGG before and after Linklater vocal training.

Main Results:

• Both AAV and EGG showed similar fundamental frequency (F0) values pre- and post-training.
• AAV detected significant shimmer reduction post-training; EGG revealed significant reductions in shimmer, jitter, and irregularity, alongside increased open quotient.

Conclusions:

• AAV and EGG effectively identified vocal function improvements in elite performers after training.
• EGG demonstrated superior efficacy, providing additional valuable parameters compared to AAV for detecting these changes.