Comparação entre medidas acústicas de vogais em provas de repetição e conversa espontânea

The aim of this study is to compare acoustic measures (frequency, duration and intensity) of the vowels /i, a, u/ in repetition and spontaneous tasks. Recordings of words produced by ten children with typical language development in both controlled and spontaneous tasks were selected from a database. The vowels were selected and edited into individual files in the software PRAAT. Acoustic measures related to formant frequency (F1 and F2), intensity and duration of vowels in both contexts were extracted. The values obtained were compared by means of T Tests. In general, the acoustic analysis showed no differences between the two contexts of speech production. The few differences found can be explained by the presence of focus and/or hesitation phenomena during the speech productions. It is possible to use data from spontaneous context to analyze the vowels acoustically, provided that both the phonetic context of the vowel occurrence and the syllable stress of the vocalic segment are considered.

Coordenação gestual na produção de encontros consonantais em crianças com desenvolvimento de linguagem típico e atípico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differences in acoustic and perceptual parameters of the voice between elderly and young women at habitual and high intensity

The present study aimed to compare elderly and young female voices in habitual and high intensity. The effect of increased intensity on the acoustic and perceptual parameters was assessed. Sound pressure level, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic to noise ratio were obtained at habitual and high intensity voice in a group of 30 elderly women and 30 young women. Perceptual assessment was also performed. Both groups demonstrated an increase in sound pressure level and fundamental frequency from habitual voice to high intensity voice. No differences were found between groups in any acoustic variables on samples recorded with habitual intensity level. No significant differences between groups were found in habitual intensity level for pitch, hoarseness, roughness, and breathiness. Asthenia and instability obtained significant higher values in elderly than young participants, whereas, the elderly demonstrated lower values for perceived tension and loudness than young subjects. Acoustic and perceptual measures do not demonstrate evident differences between elderly and young speakers in habitual intensity level. The parameters analyzed may lack the sensitivity necessary to detect differences in subjects with normal voices. Phonation with high intensity highlights differences between groups, especially in perceptual parameters. Therefore, high intensity should be included to compare elderly and young voice.