The Voice Range Profile-A Shortened Protocol Pilot Study.

Introduction: Voice production is a complex process involving the coordination of various anatomical structures and physiologic systems. The Voice Range Profile (VRP) is an established acoustic measure for evaluating voice production that examines minimum and maximum intensity across the frequency range. This pilot study sought to establish a consistent, efficient, and accessible VRP elicitation method. One primary research question was addressed: Does the proposed Short method provide at least as much information as a full, discrete-steps method, which is generally accepted in the literature?
Methods: In this quasi-repeated measures design, twenty-four singers completed a full VRP based on accepted methods from the literature, and the same participants returned within one to three weeks to complete the proposed Short VRP protocol. The full VRP consisted of steady state productions at every semitone within a participant's range for both minimum and maximum intensities. The Short VRP consisted of steady state productions at every octave and perfect fifth across the semitone range for both minimum and maximum intensities. Additional sampling was completed between points when a 7 dB or greater difference was found between consecutive points. Analysis compared each protocol's average elicitation time differences, average semitone range differences, visual examination of the average VRP graph, and examination of average intensity differences between protocols at specific semitone points. Male and female results were analyzed separately.
Results: The proposed Short protocol produced similar or better intensity ranges when compared with the accepted full elicitation method. The Short protocol produced intensities with 95% or greater similarity to the Full Protocol for male maximum intensity curve, female minimum intensity curve, and female maximum intensity curve.
Conclusions: When compared with a Full VRP, a Short VRP protocol appears to generate similar minimum and maximum intensity curves allowing for a time-efficient substitute.
(Copyright © 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)