Harmonic-intensity analysis of normal and hoarse voices

Objective evaluation of normal and hoarse voices is performed considering the characteristic that hoarse voices show a prominent fundamental frequency intensity compared with harmonics in the voice spectrum. The relative harmonic intensity Hr, obtained from a stable portion of the sustained vowel/a/, is defined as the intensity of the second and higher harmonics expressed as a percentage of the total voice intensity. Ninety-five percent of the normal voices examined have Hr larger than the critical value of 67.2%, whereas 90% of the hoarse voices have Hr smaller than the critical value. The harmonic-intensity analysis thus provides good discrimination between normal and hoarse voices.