Spectral Measures of Hoarseness in Persons with Hyperfunctional Voice Disorder

SummaryThe purpose of the present investigation was to understand the spectral differences between individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders and subjects with normal voice in terms of H1-H2, H1-A1, H1-A2, and H1-A3 (H1, first harmonic amplitude; H2, second harmonic amplitude; A1, amplitude of the most robust harmonic in the region of first formant frequency; A2, amplitude of the strongest harmonic component in the region of second formant frequency; A3, amplitude of the most robust harmonic component in the region of third formant frequency).Study DesignThis study is a standard group comparison.MethodTwo groups of subjects were recruited for the study. Group 1 subjects were diagnosed with hyperfunctional voice disorder secondary to either vocal fold nodule, polyps, or edema, and group 2 subjects had clinically normal voice. Voice recordings of all the participants were collected, and their spectrum was analyzed. Further, the amplitudes from the spectrum were investigated, and the vowel harmonic amplitude differences namely H1-H2, H1-A1, H1-A2, and H1-A3 were calculated.ResultsThe significant effect of groups on all the spectral measures was noted. Individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders showed a significantly higher amplitude difference, indicating higher spectral noise and breathiness as a result of laryngeal pathology.ConclusionThe present investigation strongly recommends the spectral measures as a quantitative acoustic index of measuring hoarseness. Supplementary researches on this regard would be helpful in differentiating and better quantifying a breathy voice from a modal voice.