Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1101892 | Journal of Voice | 2013 | 6 Pages |
SummaryObjectivesTo identify the perceptual and acoustic parameters of voice in adult women with and without ovarian function and its impact on quality of life related to voice.MethodsCross-sectional and analytical study with 106 women divided into, two groups: G1, with ovarian function (n = 43) and G2, without physiological ovarian function (n = 63). The women were instructed to sustain the vowel “a” and the sounds of /s/ and /z/ in habitual pitch and loudness. They were also asked to classify their voices and answer the voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) questionnaire. The perceptual analysis of the vocal samples was performed by three speech-language pathologists using the GRBASI (G: grade; R: roughness; B: breathness; A: asthenia; S: strain; I: instability) scale. The acoustic analysis was carried out with the software VoxMetria 2.7h (CTS Informatica). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsIn the perceptual analysis, both groups showed a mild deviation for the parameters roughness, strain, and instability, but only G2 showed a mild impact for the overall degree of dysphonia. The mean of fundamental frequency was significantly lower for the G2, with a difference of 17.41 Hz between the two groups. There was no impact on V-RQOL in any of the V-RQOL domains for this group.ConclusionsWith the menopause, there is a change in women's voices, impacting on some voice parameters. However, there is no direct impact on their quality of life related to voice.