Simulation of Human Phonation with Vocal Nodules

The geometric and biomechanical properties of the larynx strongly influence voice quality and efficiency. A physical understanding of phonation natures in pathological conditions is important for predictions of how voice disorders can be treated using therapy and rehabilitation. Here, we present a continuum-based numerical model of phonation that considers complex fluid-structure interactions occurring in the airway. This model considers a three-dimensional geometry of vocal folds, muscle contractions, and viscoelastic properties to provide a realistic framework of phonation. The vocal fold motion is coupled to an unsteady compressible respiratory flow, allowing numerical simulations of normal and diseased phonations to derive clear relationships between actual laryngeal structures and model parameters such as muscle activity. As a pilot analysis of diseased phonation, we model vocal nodules, the mass lesions that can appear bilaterally on both sides of the vocal folds. Comparison of simulations with and without the nodules demonstrates how the lesions affect vocal fold motion, consequently restricting voice quality. Furthermore, we found that the minimum lung pressure required for voice production increases as nodules move closer to the center of the vocal fold. Thus, simulations using the developed model may provide essential insight into complex phonation phenomena and further elucidate the etiologic mechanisms of voice disorders.

Weak phonation due to unknown injury of the corticobulbar tract in a patient with mild traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor tractography study

In this study,we report on a patient who showed weak phonation following mild traumatic brain injury（TBI）,which was demonstrated by diffusion tensor tractography（DTT）.

The effect of three-dimensional glottal geometry on intraglottal quasi-steady flow distributions and their relationship with phonation

Vocal fold geometry plays an important role in human phonation. The intraglottal quasi- steady pressure and velocity distributions depend upon the shape, size, and diameter of the glottis. This study reports the effects of the variation of glottal shapes on intraglottal pressures and velocities using a Plexiglas model with a glottis having nine symmetric glottal angles (uniform, as well as con-vergent and divergent 5°, 10°, 20° and 40°), while the minimal glottal diameter was held constant at 0.06 cm. The empirical data were supported by penalty finite element computational results. The re-sults suggest that larger convergent glottal angles correspond to increased pressures and decreased velocities in the glottis upstream of the minimum glottal location, with a reversal of this pattern at the minimal glottal diameter location. The pressure dip near the glottal entrance for divergent glottal an-gles was greatest for the 10° divergence angle condition, and was sequentially less for 5°, 20°, and 40°. Flow resistance was greater for a convergent angle than a divergent angle of the same value, and least for the 10° divergent condition. Pressure recovery in the glottis suggested that the optimal glottal diffuser angle was near 10°. Results suggest that the glottal geometry has a critical relationship with phonation (especially for vocal efficiency), and therefore important significance to understanding artistic voice and clinical voice management.

The effects of the false vocal fold gaps on intralaryngeal pressure distributions and their effects on phonation

Human phonation does not merely depend on the vibration of the vocal folds. Research by clinical and computer simulations has demonstrated that the false vocal fold (FVF) is an important laryngeal con-striction that plays a vital role during human voice production. This study explored the effects of the FVF gaps using both the three-dimensional Plexiglas model and the numerical computation methods. Twelve FVF gaps (ranging from 0.02 to 2.06 cm) were used in this study at three glottal angles (uniform and convergent/divergent 40°), two minimal glottal diameters (Dg) (0.04 cm and 0.06 cm) separately, and the constant subglottal pressure (8 cm H2O). The results suggested that (1) the intralaryngeal pressure was the lowest and the flow was the highest (least flow resistance) when the FVF gap was 1.5-2 times greater than Dg; (2) the divergent glottal angle gave lower pressure and greater flow than the conver-gent and uniform glottal angle as there were no FVF conditions; (3) the presence of the FVF decreased the effects of the glottal angle to a certain extent; and more importantly, (4) the presence of the FVF also moved the separation points downstream, straightened the glottal jet for a longer distance, decreased the overall laryngeal resistance, and reduced the energy dissipation, suggesting the significance of FVF in efficient voice production. These results may be incorporated in the phonatory models (physical or computational) for better understanding of vocal mechanics. The results might also be helpful in exploring the surgical and rehabilitative intervention of related voice problems.

嗓音声学检测分析

目的重点介绍嗓音声学检测分析方法的分类及其临床意义。方法嗓音声学检测分析主要分为主观心理听觉评估和客观声学检测分析两种。主观心理听觉评估方法应用最多的是GRBAS评估标准,包括:音哑总分度G(overallgradedegree),粗糙型R(rough),气息型B(breath),无力型A(asthenic),紧张型S(strained);客观检测分析方法主要包括:嗓音声学分析,声带形态及运动检测,喉空气动力学检测,喉肌电图分析。结果嗓音声学检测分析方法可检查喉病治疗效果及喉功能恢复改善情况。对用喉者的发音状况进行监测,对喉病作辅助诊断。结论嗓音声学检测分析是喉发音功能评估主要方法之一,采用多参数综合检测分析将会更全面地反应喉的生理功能状况。

The Phonetic Rhetoric in The Garden Party

Katherine Mansfield is a prominent modernist writer.The Garden Party is one of important short stories she wrote in1921.The story is full of musicality.What's more,the phonation,stress and intonation of words make the passage possess consis-tency with the growth of Laura's inner heart,that is from excitement,hesitation to peaceful after realization.

Profiles and predictors of onset based differences in vocal characteristics of adults with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder(ANSD)

Purpose:Onset-based differences are understudied in Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder(ANSD)in dimensions such as voice,which is addressed in the study.The study aimed to profile and predict the best metrics of onset-related differences in acoustic vocal characteristics of early and late-onset ANSD patients.Methods:31 participants(15 early and 16 late-onset)aged 15e30 years diagnosed with ANSD were included in the study.The sustained phonation of vowel/i/recorded by the participants using android based smartphones of selected configuration was sent over email to the experimenter.Acoustic parameters(fundamental frequency,harmonic frequencies,jitter,shimmer,harmonic-to-noise ratio,cepstral peak prominence-CPP,and pitch sigma)were analysed using Praat software.Results:Results revealed significantly increased(p<0.05)fundamental frequency along with decreased F2 and F3 of/i/in the early-onset ANSD compared to the late-onset group,which can be explained based on differences in the pathophysiology of the disorder.Although not statistically significant,mean perturbations(jitter and shimmer),harmonic-to-noise ratio,cepstral peak prominence,and pitch sigma were more affected in the early-onset group,reflective of lowered auditory feedback and periodicity in their voice samples.Results of discriminant analysis marked the emergence of F2,F3,and CPP as the most sensitive metrics for onset-based group differences in voice characteristics.Conclusions:The findings from the study highlight the role of acoustical voice evaluation(especially CPP,F2&F3)in verifying the onset of ANSD disorder.The insights from the onset-based differences seen in vocal characteristics can indirectly help audiologists in deciding the management options for ANSD.

Morphological Correlates of the Phonatory Organ in an Ultrasonically Phonating Frog

The concave-eared torrent frog(Odorrana tormota) is the first species of tailless amphibian that was evidenced to phonate and detect ultrasounds. We employed anatomic and histological methods to examine the phonatory organs, including the floor of the buccal cavity, vocal cords and glottis, of O. tormota and its sympatric species including O. graminea, O. schmackeri, and Amolops wuyiensis with different fundamental frequencies, and Pelophylax nigromaculatus as a control. Our results reveal that O. tormota possesses specialized phonatory organ structures, with thinner vocal cords modulated by a moderately stronger muscular mastoideus between the medial vocal cords and the lateral cricoid cartilages, and more elastic mouth floor to likely supply faster air stream which could make the vocal cords vibrate at higher frequencies, larger relative distance between the two muscles m. intermandibulares(RDMI), and higher nucleus density of m. intermandibularis(NDMI) and m. geniohyoideus(NDMG). The results of Pearson’s correlation tests between the mean values of the above measurements and the fundamental frequencies from the five species imply that all the specialized phonatory organ structures mentioned above might be favored by higher frequency of phonation of O. tormota.

喉癌术后发声和吞咽功能评价

喉癌术后对发音和吞咽功能的评价，是评价不同功能性喉保留手术效果的有效方法。国际上对喉癌术后功能评价方法的研究越来越深入，各种新的评价方法不断涌现。本文就近年来国内外在该领域的研究进展做一综述。