Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Fonoaudiologia
Print version ISSN 1516-8034
AZEVEDO, Luciana Lemos de et al. Vocal performance evaluation before and after the voiced tongue vibration technique. Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.3, pp. 343-348. ISSN 1516-8034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-80342010000300006.
PURPOSE: To verify the ideal period of time to perform the voiced tongue vibration technique in order to interfere in the measures of short-term disturbance (of the vibration of the vocal folds), fundamental frequency (F0) and vocal intensity. METHODS: Forty three female volunteers with ages varying from 18 to 31 years (average of 21,2) were analyzed. They underwent a screening performed by a speech-language pathologist and an otorhinolaryngologist, in order to eliminate possible laryngeal pathologies and/or voice disorders. The recording of a long [a] was carried out before the use of the voiced tongue vibration technique, and after the first, third and fifth minutes of its completion. Acoustic analysis of the data was carried out using the software Vox Metria® 1.1, which analyzed the average F0 and its variability, average intensity, and measures of short-term disturbance. RESULTS: The F0 increased after three minutes of execution of the technique, and intensity increased after one minute. On the contrary, noise decreased after three minutes using the technique. The parameters F0 variability, jitter, shimmer, level of glottic noise, and irregularity showed no differences between the periods of time compared. CONCLUSION: The voiced tongue vibration technique was more effective after a period of three minutes. The results confirmed the effectiveness of this technique, which is widely used in Speech-Language Pathology practice, defining the optimal period of time to perform it.
Keywords : Voice [therapy]; Fonation [physiology]; Larynx [physiology]; Speech acoustics; Speech therapy; Voice training.