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Spectrum factors relevant to phonetogram measurement.
1Department of Phoniatrics, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Phonetograms reveal differences in voice function. Soft phonation emphasizes the fundamental frequency, while loud phonation highlights overtones, with variations based on measurement units and vowel choice.
Area of Science:
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
- Acoustics
- Voice Physiology
Background:
- Phonetograms, visualizing sound-pressure level (SPL) in soft and loud phonation, are used in voice clinics.
- Understanding phonetogram characteristics is crucial for voice function assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spectrum characteristics of phonetograms for healthy voices.
- To investigate the influence of measurement units (dB vs. dB(A)) and vowel selection on phonetogram contours.
Main Methods:
- Spectrum analysis of the vowel /a/ in ten females and ten males with healthy voices.
- Measurement of sound-pressure level (SPL) using both dB and dB(A) weighting.
- Comparison of SPL values across different phonation levels and vowels.
Main Results:
- In soft phonation, the fundamental frequency was the strongest partial; in loud phonation, an overtone was typically the strongest.
- First-formant frequency was generally lower in soft than in loud phonation.
- Using dB(A) lowered phonetogram contours for soft phonation, an effect dependent on fundamental frequency.
Conclusions:
- Phonetogram interpretation is enhanced by using decibels (dB) and selecting vowels with high first-formant frequencies.
- SPL measurements and vowel choice significantly impact phonetogram appearance, affecting voice function descriptions.