New software tool could transform how doctors measure voice disorders
Researchers have released an upgraded system that captures how human voices change across different pitches and volumes—a capability that could make voice therapy and vocal training measurably more effective. The tool promises to help clinicians objectively track patient progress and validate which treatments actually work, addressing a long-standing weakness in voice medicine.
Originaltitel: Update 3.1 to FonaDyn: A system for real-time analysis of the electroglottogram, over the voice range
<p>The human voice is notoriously variable, and conventional measurement paradigms are weak in terms of providing evidence for effects of treatment and/or training of voices. New methods are needed that can take into account the variability of metrics and types of phonation across the voice range. The “voice map” is a generalization of the Voice Range Profile (a.k.a. the phonetogram), with the potential to be used in many ways, for teaching, training, therapy and research. FonaDyn is intended as a proof-of concept workbench for education and research on phonation, and for exploring and validating the analysis paradigm of voice-mapping. Version 3.1 of the FonaDyn system adds many new functions, including listening from maps; displaying multiple maps and difference maps to track effects of voice interventions; smoothing/interpolation of voice maps; clustering not only of EGG shapes but also of acoustic and EGG metrics into phonation types; extended multichannel acquisition;24-bit recording with optional max 140 dB SPL; a built-in SPL calibration and signal diagnostics tool; EGG noise suppression; more Matlab integration; script control; the acoustic metrics Spectrum Balance, Cepstral Peak Prominence and Harmonic Richness Factor (of the EGG); and better window layout control. Stability and usability are further improved. Apple M-series processors are now supported natively.</p>