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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Misarticulation caused by abnormal lingual-palatal contact in patients with cleft palate with adequate velopharyngeal function.

Misarticulations produced by three patients with cleft palate (2 isolated cleft palate; 1 unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate) who attained adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault by early surgical repairs were examined using electropalatography (EPG) and sound spectrography (SG). Common characteristics of lingual-palatal contact in which the contact area was broader and/or was more posterior than normal were observed. These misarticulations can be divided into three types based on the direction of the breath emission: palatalized misarticulation (in which air passes along the midline of the palate), lateral misarticulation (in which air flows laterally through the occluded dental arch), and nasopharyngeal misarticulation (in which air flows out the nose). These three are considered to be similar to intractable posterior pattern of articulation in cleft palate patients previously reported. However, these types of misarticulations can be produced by cleft patients who have achieved adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault.

Articulation Disorders

VOT and dysarthria: a descriptive study.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether voice onset time differences occurred among speakers exhibiting four different types of dysarthria. Twenty dysarthric speakers were used as subjects: five spastic, five flaccid, five ataxic, and five hypokinetic. Repeated utterance tasks using /p lambda/, /t lambda/ and /k lambda/ were analyzed using spectrography. All the speakers exhibited phonetic errors in their voice onset time productions, with voice onset times occurring in the range of values between voiced and voiceless stops. The spastic speakers exhibited shortest voice onset times while the flaccid and ataxic speakers exhibited significantly more voice onset time variability than the spastic and hypokinetic speakers. The short voice onset times exhibited by these speakers were related to the physiologic demands of voiceless stop productions.

Dysarthria

[Esophageal voice: a critical analysis of the results obtained by different rehabilitative technics].

In order to evaluate the phonatory results obtained with the use of tracheoesophageal prostheses, 38 laryngectomees were examined, 20 of which underwent erigmophonic voice rehabilitation while the other 18 were rehabilitated with the application of a prosthesis. In all cases electroglottography and spectrography of the voice were performed. In the erigmophonic-voice subjects, electroglottography gave a normal glottic wave while spectrography gave a tracing with frequent interruptions, scarce harmonics, altered by the presence of background noises. In the tracheoesophageal prosthesis patients, the electroglottogram showed regular hypopharynx vibratory activity while the spectrogram appeared free of interruptions activity while the spectrogram appeared free of interruptions and presented a uniform distributions and presented a uniform distribution of suffixes. The data obtained demonstrate that better results are obtained with the use of tracheoesophageal prosthesis as it allows the exhaled air to be used in phonation and thus respects respiratory dynamics and pneumophonic synergism. It also makes it possible to achieve a clear, fluent voice. Furthermore, the results obtained with patients with this prosthesis were constantly satisfactory when the long exercises required were performed.

Electrophysiology

Preoperative and postoperative voice analysis of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty patients.

While clinical studies almost universally report few speech and voice complications from uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, there is a paucity of prospective studies concerned with formal acoustic and perceptual evaluation of these patients. This study compares preoperative and postoperative recordings of 32 uvulopalatopharyngoplasty patients. Fast Fourier Transform analyses were made of both long-term spectra of a reading passage and the resonant characteristics of three vowels. Fundamental frequency and reading time were quantified. Polysomnographic studies of these patients were also compared. Finally, listener judgments of "better voice" were made on preoperative and postoperative pairs of the same patients performing a reading task. While the polysomnographic data demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the physical condition of the patients, no perceptual or acoustic measure of voice or speech was significant when preoperative and postoperative scores were compared.

Adolescent

Respirosonography in infants with acute bronchiolitis.

Respirosonography was used to analyze lung sounds and breathing patterns in 16 infants with acute bronchiolitis who were treated with nebulized salbutamol (albuterol). Wheezing was measured as a proportion of respiratory time (time spent wheezing [Tw]/total time [Ttot]). A decrease of 10% or greater in Tw/Ttot or a reduction in Tw/Ttot to less than 2% was considered a positive response to salbutamol. Seven infants responded to the salbutamol, and nine did not. In responders, Tw/Ttot decreased from 47% +/- 26% to 20% +/- 25% (mean +/- SD), and the respiratory rate decreased from 65 +/- 8 to 57 +/- 7 breaths per minute. In nonresponders, mean Tw/Ttot either did not change or increased, and there was no significant change in respiratory rate (53 +/- 10 breaths per minute before salbutamol inhalation and 56 +/- 9 breaths per minute after salbutamol inhalation). Complex repetitive waveforms, different from the sinusoidal waveforms of typical wheezing, were observed in 14 of 16 infants. Our findings add supportive evidence to the clinical impression that some infants with bronchiolitis respond to salbutamol. Respirosonography provides a noninvasive method for objective clinical assessment of young, wheezy children.

Acoustics

Phenotypic and phoniatric findings in mosaic cri du chat syndrome.

We report on mosaic 46,XY/46,XY,del(5)(p15) cri du chat syndrome. The clinical findings are compared with those compiled from a literature survey. A phoniatric evaluation was performed and compared with that of a cri du chat patient without mosaicism previously observed by the authors.

Chromosome Deletion

Conspecific screams and laughter: cardiac and behavioral reactions of infant chimpanzees.

The present study examined cardiac and behavioral reactions of infant chimpanzees to white noise and to conspecific screams and laughter. Chimpanzee screams evoked typical deceleratory cardiac orienting responses. Analysis of stimulus-evoked changes in respiratory sinus arrhythmia suggested that this cardiac deceleration arose from an increase in parasympathetic activity. In contrast, chimpanzee laughter evoked notable cardiac acceleration. Laughter also evoked vocalizations from the infant subjects, which were reminiscent of adult threat-barks. Analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmia suggested that the cardioacceleratory response likely resulted from sympathetic activation, and was not associated with an inhibition of parasympathetic activity. The autonomic and vocal responses to laughter emerged early in development, were minimally dependent on social contact with adults, and declined in magnitude with increasing age. A consideration of the phylogeny of laughter raised the possibility that the functional reaction to this vocalization may be related to its origin in more primitive agonistic facio-vocal signals.

Animals

Innate learning preferences: signals for communication.

Research on the ways in which different species of birds learn to sing is used to illustrate the necessity of taking innate factors into account in studies of behavioral development. Experiments on two species of songbirds are described that reveal innate species differences in responsiveness to tape-recorded songs. Conspecific songs are favored over those of other species. These patterns of innately varying responsiveness provide a basis for the development, not of stereotyped behavior, but of variable, individually learned behavior. The viewpoint is presented that mechanisms that differ innately from species to species, some with general functions, others specialized for particular ontogenetic assignments, provide the necessary substrates with which experience interacts.

Animal Communication

Ontogeny of sexually dimorphic ultrasonic vocalizations in Mongolian gerbils.

Sexual differentiation of emission rates (Experiment 1) and physical structure of ultrasonic vocalizations (Experiment 2) were investigated in Mongolian gerbils between 17 and 85 days of age. Animals from different litters were allowed to interact in iso- and heterosexual pairs. Vocalization rates increased in all groups, reaching a plateau at approximately day 56. Female pups had significantly higher rates of all vocalizations than male pairs before the plateau stage. Five stereotypic categories of physical structure were easily distinguished and confirmed by sound spectrographic analysis. Only mid-range frequencies of vocalizations appeared to decline throughout the juveniles' lives: this change may communicate the animal's age. Two male and one female categories were sexually dimorphic and similar in structure to those made during courtship interactions. Rates of male-type vocalizations appear to increase as testicular androgens start rising.

Aging

Ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups during recovery from deep hypothermia.

Vocalization in the ultrasonic range (USV) has been reported to occur in young rodents in response to isolation, novelty, handling, and cold. Heretofore these calls have been known to occur only in alert, attentive, or emotionally aroused animals. These studies describe the emission of USV by comatose 9- to 10-day-old rat pups during recovery from deep hypothermia. Calling began at 15-18 degrees C core temperature while pups were virtually unresponsive to stimulation. Experimental results describe the patterns of call production in relation to respiration, cardiac function, colonic temperature, and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. These vocalizations were 32-42 kHz in frequency, reached peak rates of 50/min at 23 degrees C, and were eliminated by laryngeal denervation, thus resembling isolation-induced vocalizations. However, contact with their dams failed to reduce call rates until pups had warmed above 25 degrees C. Newborn and weanling pups also emitted USV in deep hypothermia, but no USV were observed in pups recovering from general anesthesia. The possible functions and evolution of this behavior are discussed.

Adipose Tissue, Brown

Relationship between electrical and vibratory output of muscle during voluntary contraction and fatigue.

Measurements were done on the biceps muscles of 6 healthy volunteers to record simultaneously the surface electromyogram (EMG) and vibromyogram (VMG) by means of a piezoelectric device (accelerometer). The VMG is generated by mechanical waves due to the contraction mechanism and often measured as sound. The frequency spectrum and integrated value (IEMG and IVMG) of both signals were calculated. Both IEMG and IVMG showed a clear linear correlation with force, although at high forces, the variability of the VMG became rather high. Two series of experiments were performed to study the EMG and VMG changes in relation to changes induced by fatigue: (1) during constant force at 50% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and recovery; (2) for one 1 minute during declining force at MVC. The main finding was that the IVMG was related to the absolute force, irrespective of the fatigue state of the muscle. In contrast, the IEMG showed the well-known changes during fatigue, such as an increase during endurance. The spectral changes of the two measurements also showed a divergence. The spectra of the EMG shifted to lower frequencies in both fatigue protocols. In contrast, the spectra of the vibratory signal did not shift, except for several measurements at MVC. However, the shape did change to a somewhat flatter spectrum with less pronounced peaks. Possible explanations for this different behavior are discussed. It is concluded that the vibratory energy generated by the contraction mechanism is linearly related to force. Changes induced by fatigue do not alter this relationship: this contrasts with the behavior of the EMG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electromyography

Electroglottogram waveform types of untrained speakers.

Electroglottography is a useful, non-invasive technique that can assist in the assessment of vocal fold dysfunction. However, if it is to become a useful clinical tool, there is a need for normative studies of the electroglottogram waveform types that characterize different groups of speakers. This report compares the electroglottogram waveform types characterizing one trained professional voice user phonating in 15 experimental sessions under various fundamental frequencies, intensities and voice qualities with those obtained from 52 untrained non-professional speakers.

Adult

Changes in voice characteristics after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Previous reports have warned that tonsillectomy or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) may alter patients' speech by increasing the amount of nasal resonance as well as by changing voice timbre due to enlargement of the vocal tract. However, very few objective investigations, excluding nasality problems, have been carried out. We studied eight patients who underwent surgery for UPPP and recorded pre- and postoperative speech. The speech samples were then rated by seven experienced listeners, and acoustic spectra of two long vowels,/a/ and /e/, were analyzed using a computer program (MacSpeech Lab II). The listeners were unable to make a distinction between pre- and postoperative voice samples in the recordings studied. Acoustic analysis showed that the fundamental frequency as well as the first and second formants remained essentially unchanged. Present findings show that UPPP should not have a significant effect on voice characteristics as long as excessive nasality is not produced.

Female

Frequency variation in spontaneous sound emissions from guinea pig and human ears.

Spontaneous acoustic emissions were recorded from 7 of 15 human ears at frequencies between 900 and 4000 Hz and just above 1000 Hz in a guinea pig. The constancy or changes in the frequency composition of these emissions is of particular interest in the light of current models which implicate outer hair cell activity in their generation. In our present study, most emissions underwent continuous fluctuations in frequency over a bandwidth of 0.5-10 Hz in humans and more than 20 Hz in a young guinea pig. Jumps in frequency of emission by as much as 20 Hz occurred during test sessions in some of the human ears. Changes in emission frequency were also observed during suppression by an externally delivered tone. The frequency of the emissions at successive test sessions also varied in some human ears and in the guinea pig between the ages of 6 and 9 weeks. The guinea pig emission also underwent an increase of 50 Hz in frequency and a reduction of 25 dB in level during recovery from anaesthesia. Neely's model for the role of hair cells in the generation of spontaneous emissions suggests that changes in hair cell conductance could influence the frequency of spontaneous oscillation. The small, but continuous changes in spontaneous emission frequency seen in all ears may reflect changes in conductance at the hair cell level due to synaptic and transducer channel activity.

Aging

Surgical voice rehabilitation after laryngopharyngectomy. Functional results of tracheo-hypopharyngeal shunts by jejunal transplantation.

For surgical voice rehabilitation after pharyngolaryngectomy we use the technique of placing a siphonlike jejunal interposition in order to create a tracheohypopharyngeal shunt. In this paper we present the functional benefits of this method of voice rehabilitation. The best results achieved are compared with a normal voice using the following test parameters: electroacoustic sound analyses and voice status. The findings show that the siphon voice is adequate for everyday purposes and can achieve useful social verbal communication.

Anastomosis, Surgical

Inheritance of male courtship sound characteristics in Drosophila littoralis.

Males of Drosophila littoralis vibrate their wings during courtship to deliver a "love song." This consists of 25- to 50-ms-long pulses with a basic frequency of about 250-400 Hz, separated by 250- to 500-ms pauses. When recording the sounds of flies from several localities in Europe, we found that males of one strain from northern Finland displayed courtship sounds with an unusually low wing beat frequency (below 250 Hz). In a genetic analysis utilizing marker stocks, the anomalous frequency was found to be caused by genes on all major autosomes, the strongest factors being on the second chromosome. Interaction between genes on chromosome 2 and on the fused chromosome 3-4 was non-additive. In low-frequency sounds, the number of cycles in the pulse (CN) was decreased, so that the length of the sound pulse (PL) remained more or less unchanged. We suggest that the genetically and physiologically most thoroughly controlled trait in the sound of Drosophila littoralis is the length of the pulse.

Animals

Drosophila courtship song cycles in normal and period mutant males revisited.

Courtship songs of normal males and those expressing short-period, long-period, and arrhythmic mutations at the period (per) locus of Drosophila melanogaster have been reanalyzed for rhythmic components, using spectral treatments of the fluctuating rates of tone pulse production that occur during courtship. It was concluded, as in previous studies, that such songs are strongly rhythmic, except for courtships performed by per01 males. Songs produced by males expressing this and other per alleles were compared to computer-generated "random" ones. Interpulse interval variations influenced by per01 and songs stimulated to be arrhythmic both were found to be associated with cryptic rhythmicities; several such period values, extracted by the spectral analyses, defined very short cycle durations. We discuss the implications of these findings and of some recently reported results that have challenged the existence of rhythmicity in Drosophila songs.

Animal Communication

Spectral analysis of courtship songs in behavioral mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.

Spectral analyses were applied to the courtship songs of the mutants cacophony (cac), dissonance (diss), fruitless (fru), and period (per), as well as to the double mutant cac diss. Aberrant intervals between song pulses were observed in diss, cac, cac diss, and fru songs. diss males displayed a defect in song hums manifested by an irregular sine wave, although the fundamental frequencies were normal. Sine song frequencies and intrapulse frequencies were aberrant in cac diss males. Two per mutant alleles (pero1 and pers) were associated with normal song [corrected] pulses and hums. These findings are discussed with regard to the mechanisms of song production and the role of these sounds in Drosophila reproduction.

Animals