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The aim of this study was to assess prosodic features in Finnish speakers with (n = 16) and without (n = 20) Parkinson's disease (PD), as there are no published studies to date of prosodic features in Finnish speakers with PD. Chosen metrics were articulation rate (syllables/second), pitch (mean F0) and pitch variability (standard deviation F0), energy proportion below 1 kHz (epb1kHz), normalised pairwise variability index (nPVI), and a novel syllabic prosody index (SPI). Four statistically significant results were found: (1) energy was distributed more to lower frequencies in speakers with PD compared to control speakers, (2) male PD speakers had higher pitch and (3) higher syllabic prosody index compared to control males, and (4) female PD speakers had narrower pitch variability than controls. In this study, PD was manifested as less emphatic and breathier voice. Interestingly, male PD speakers' dysprosody was manifested as an effortful speaking style, whereas female PD speakers exhibited dysprosody with a monotonous speaking style. A novel syllable-based prosody index could be a potentially useful tool in analysing prosody in disordered speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) is a correlate of dysphonia. It has been found to differentiate between dysphonic and normophonic speakers and to indicate the effects of voice therapy. This study investigates how the AVQI reacts towards creak and strain, which are common in normophonic speakers. Methods: The material was obtained from an earlier study on 104 Finnish female university students (mean age 24.3 years, SD 6.3 years) with no known pathology of voice or hearing and a perceptually normal voice (G = 0 in GRBAS), who were recorded while reading aloud a standard text and sustaining the vowel [a:]. Perceptual analysis for the amount of creak and strain was carried out by 2 expert listeners. In this study, the AVQI v03.01 was analyzed and correlated with perceptual evaluations. Samples with low and high amounts of creak and strain were compared with t tests. Results: On average, the AVQI was below the threshold value of dysphonia in the Finnish population. The AVQI (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.000) and its subparameters, smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS; ρ = –0.35, p = 0.000) and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR; ρ = –0.30, p = 0.002) showed low but significant correlations with creak. Strain had low but significant correlations with spectral Slope (ρ = 0.38, p = 0.000) and Tilt (ρ = –0.40, p = 0.009). The AVQI was lower (better) in samples that were evaluated as having a high amount of strain, but the difference was not significant. Only CPPS differentiated significantly between low and high amounts of creak. Conclusion: The AVQI does not seem to differentiate between high and low amounts of creak and strain in normophonic speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the efficacy of the NHS waterpipe as a superficial hydration treatment in voice production in healthy young women. This is a prospective, single-blind, within- and between-subject experimental design. Thirty six female university students (mean age 24.6 years, range 19–45 years) were recruited to the study. Participants were randomized to two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and a control group. E1 underwent hydration treatment with the NHS waterpipe filled with 0.9% saline that was immersed in a cup of heated water. E2 underwent a similar treatment but without heated immersion. The control group received no treatment. Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI v03.01) and its subparameters, phonation threshold pressure, self-perceived phonatory effort and sensation of throat dryness was measured at three time points (before the intervention and immediately and 15 minutes after it). The Tilt of the AVQI's subparameters increased significantly in the E1 (P = 0.027) and E2 groups (P = 0.027) after the intervention. Furthermore, the E1 group had significantly lower harmonics-to-noise-ratio values at the third measurement point compared to the E2 group (P = 0.023). These findings may result from fluid transported to the vocal fold level. The sensations of throat dryness decreased in the E1 (P = 0.001) and E2 groups (P < 0.0005) after the intervention. Perceived phonatory effort decreased statistically significantly at the final measurement point in the E1 (P = 0.002) and E2 (P = 0.031) groups. No variables changed in the control group. The waterpipe seems to be efficient in hydrating vocal folds on single use. It seems to be more efficient when employed with a hot water bath, albeit slightly impairing some acoustic values in the short term. Without the heated fluid, it still seems to decrease sensations of throat dryness and affect acoustic voice quality. The waterpipe does not seem to have an effect on phonation threshold pressure, and it seems to lower self-perceived effort just as efficiently whether the waterpipe is employed using a hot water bath or not. Further research is needed to prove the efficacy of long-term usage and usage with voice patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]