Estimating dysphonia severity in continuous speech: application of a multi-parameter spectral/cepstral model.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify a sub-set of spectral/cepstral-based analysis methods that would most effectively predict dysphonia severity (as estimated via auditory-perceptual analysis) in samples of continuous speech. Acoustic estimates of dysphonia severity were used as an objective treatment outcomes measure in a set of pre- vs post-treatment speech samples. Pre- and post-treatment continuous speech samples from 104 females with primary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) were rated by listeners using a 100 point visual analogue scale (VAS) and analysed acoustically with spectral/cepstral-based measures. Stepwise linear regression produced a three-factor model consisting of the cepstral peak prominence (CPP); the mean ratio of low-to-high frequency spectral energy; and the standard deviation of the ratio of low-to-high frequency spectral energy that was strongly correlated with perceived dysphonia severity ratings (R = .85; R2 = .73). Mean differences between predicted vs perceptual ratings for pre- and post-treatment speech samples were < 6 points on the 100 point VAS; mean absolute differences between predicted and perceived ratings were < 16 points on the 100 point VAS (equivalent to within one scale value on commonly used 7-point equal-appearing interval rating scales). A multi-parameter acoustic model consisting of spectral/cepstral-based measures shows considerable promise as an objective measure of dysphonia severity in continuous speech, even across the diverse voice types and severities observed in pre- and post-treatment MTD speech samples.

• Authors: Shaheen N Awan, Nelson Roy, Christopher Dromey
• Journal: Clinical linguistics & phonetics (Clin Linguist Phon) Vol. 23 Issue 11 Pg. 825-41 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 1464-5076 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19891523 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Dysphonia (etiology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Muscle Tonus
• Pain Measurement
• Phonetics
• Severity of Illness Index
• Speech
• Speech Acoustics
• Speech Therapy