BS2 Dynamic Real Time MRI for Analysis Of
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Ref#:BS2 Dynamic Real Time MRI for Analysis of Vocal Tract in Different Musical Theatre Singing Styles Objective: It has been shown that dynamic MRI is a useful tool to study vocal tract shapes and associated modifications in different register conditions in classical western singing and yodelling. However, also in musical theatre singing different techniques show differences in sound characteristics which could be associated with differences in vocal tract shapes. Material and Methods: Dynamic real time MRI of 8 frames per second was used to analyze the vocal tract profiles in a single female musical theatre singer. The subject was asked to perform different singing tasks, such as register changes, different vibrato styles and different singing styles which are commonly used in musical theatre singing. Results: Different tasks including belting function show differences of vocal tract shapes concerning lip opening, jaw opening, tongue position, pharynx width, uvula elevation, larynx height and tilting of the larynx. Conclusions: The differences of the vocal tract configurations might contribute to differences in sound characteristics observed in different vocal conditions used in musical theatre singing. Matthias Echternach, MD, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 60, 79106 Freiburg, Germany Lisa Popeil, Voiceworks®, 14162 Valley Vista Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Louisa Traser, MD, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 60, 79106 Freiburg, Germany Bernhard Richter, MD, Institute of Musicians’ Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center Breisacher Str. 60, 79106 Freiburg, Germany 1 Ref#: BS5 The Effect of Cheek Supports on Aerodynamic Measurement Precision During the Airflow Interruption Technique Airflow interruption provides an accurate, indirect estimation of subglottal pressure (Ps). Measurement of Ps is essential for calculating laryngeal resistance (RL), vocal efficiency, and phonation threshold pressure. We have observed that the interruption sometimes causes cheek expansion, potentially reducing measurement precision. This phenomenon also occurs in respiratory studies using a similar method to measure airway resistance and is counteracted by supporting the subject’s cheeks during the interruption. To determine if cheek expansion affects measurement of aerodynamic parameters and measurement precision, we tested eight subjects performing ten trials with and ten trials without cheek supports. Task order was varied to ensure any potential difference in performance was not due to comfort level with the experiment. Mean and coefficient of variation of mean flow rate (MFR), Ps, and RL were calculated for each subject and condition. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were performed to compare results obtained with and without cheek supports. Cheek supports had no effect on mean estimation of MFR (p=0.250), PS (p=0.641), or RL (p=0.454). Coefficients of variation for MFR and PS were lower when using cheek supports, but neither difference achieved statistical significance (p=0.065, p=0.092). Cheek supports had no effect on the precision of measuring RL (p=0.518). From these results, we cannot conclude that cheek supports either should or should not be incorporated as a standard component of airflow interruption. Given the modest sample size and nearly significant differences in measurement precision, though, cheek supports may be a valuable addition. Additional subjects will be recruited to determine if this apparent difference is upheld in a larger sample size. William J. Chapin, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1300 University Ave 2745 Medical Sciences Center Madison, WI 53706 Matthew R. Hoffman, B.S.,, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1300 University Ave 2745 Medical Sciences Center Madison, WI 53706 Adam L. Rieves, M.S., Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1300 University Ave 2745 Medical Sciences Center Madison, WI 53706 Jack J. Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, 1300 University Ave 2745 Medical Sciences Center Madison, WI 53706 2 Ref#:BS7 Analyzing the Female “Middle Register” with EGG Wavegrams The choice of singing register and the degree of vocal fold adduction are two concepts that are not easily discriminated by inexperienced singers. This is particularly true for the mid range (pitch C4 – C5) of untrained female classical singers, where adducted falsetto, the desired sound quality in this range, is rarely observed. As an underlying physiological principle, vocal fold adduction can be separately controlled by (a) cartilaginous adduction, i.e. the adduction of the posterior glottis via the arytenoids (controlled by the singer with the degree of “breathiness” / ”pressedness”); and by (b) membranous medialization through vocal fold bulging (controlled by the choice of vocal register, i.e. chest vs. falsetto) [1]. In this study, singing exercises and instructions for adjusting adductory settings (cartilaginous adduction vs. membranous medialization) in the female mid-range were performed by both trained and untrained female classical singers. Phonation was monitored by acoustic recording, electroglottography (EGG) and laryngeal imaging. EGG wavegrams [2], a novel method for displaying EGG signals, were used for data analysis. EGG wavegram data revealed distinct differences between the targeted phonation types for each individual. The observed differences established themselves as (a) presence/absence of vocal fold contact; (b) duration of vocal fold contact per glottal cycle; (c) changes in the overall EGG signal amplitude; (d) distinctness of opening/closing events; (e) perturbations seen in the wavegrams. Inter- subject data variation suggests that the individual’s anatomy influences vocal fold contact in singing. EGG wavegrams proved to be useful in documenting changes of both singing register and glottal adduction. Christian Herbst, Mag., University of Vienna, Dept. of Cognitive Biology, Laboratory of Bio- Acoustics, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, AUSTRIA, Jan G. Švec, PhD, Assistant Provessor, Palacky University Olomouc, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Physics , Laboratory of Biophysics, tr. 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc , Czech Republic Josef Schlömicher-Thier,MD, ENT, Occupational Voice Medicine, Austrian Voice Institute, Salzburgerstrasse 7, A-5202 Neumarkt a. Wallersee W. Tecumseh Fitch, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14,, 1090 Wien, Austria 3 Ref#: BS11 Videokymography: Which Features Can Be Reliably Evaluated Visually? Videokymographic (VKG) imaging has been accepted as a novel convenient method of displaying the phonation behavior of the vocal folds. Clinicians use the method to visually evaluate various vibration features of the vocal folds, which are relevant for diagnosis of voice disorders (Svec et al. 2007). The present study addresses the question of how reliable is the visual evaluation of these features. Ten judges evaluated 33 VKG features in 50 VKG images from patients of various voice disorders using an original systematic protocol. Simplified drawings (pictograms) were used for each of the features to make the evaluation easier. The results revealed that 10 features were evaluated identically (within the expected tolerance region) in over 95% of the cases. These most reliable parameters were: presence of vibration on the left and right vocal fold, closure duration, left-right frequency differences, problematic evaluation, number of cycles left and right, view obstruction, vibration variability left and right. 10 more parameters were evaluated identically in over 90 % of the cases and the rest of the parameters in over 72% of the cases. The least reliable parameters were: interference with fluids, axis shift during closure, mucosal wave type and type of cycle aberrations. These results provide the basis for evaluating algorithms for automatic detection of the vibration features of the vocal folds based on image analysis. The analyzed videokymographic features provide important information on vocal fold functioning which is complementary to the traditional information on laryngeal morphology obtained from laryngoscopy and laryngostroboscopy The research has been supported in the Czech Republic by the European Social Fund Project CZ.1.07/2.4.00/17.0009 “Partnership and Science” and by the Palacky University student’s project PrF_2011_024. Jan G. Svec, PhD, Palacky University Olomouc, Faculty of Science, Department of Biohysics , 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc , Voice Centre Prague,, Medical Healthcom, Ltd. Prague, Czech Republic Vit Hampala, MSc, Palacky University Olomouc, Faculty of Science, Department of Biohysics , 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc , the Czech Republic Marek Fric, MSc, Music Acoustics Research Center,, HAMU , Malostranske namesti 13, , 118 00 Praha 1, the Czech Republic Frantisek Sram, MD, PhD, Voice Center Prague, Spanelska 4, 120 00 Praha 2, the Czech Republic Harm K. Schutte, Cymo, B.V., , Stavangerweg 21-2, 9723JC, Groningen , the Netherlands 4 Ref#: BS13 Crude Vibratory