[Language tests in electroglottography].

An Electroglottograph (Fourcin Laryngograph Processor) was used to determine, whether there was a significant difference in degree of Irregularity in vocal fold vibration (% Irregularity) or Contact Quotient (Qx) in the vocal fold vibratory cycle (Lx) between different phonatory tasks and between men and women. The most recent software package, 'Speech Studio', was used to analyse the data. The subjects were 24 healthy subjects, 16 females and 8 males, aged from 22 to 71. The tasks consisted of sustained vowels: a, o, u, short words: Ala, Ola, Ula and a short phrase in Polish, spoken at comfortable pitch and volume. The average age of females and males did not differ significantly on t-testing. The results showed there were no statistically significant differences between mean values of Qx between phonatory tasks on ANOVA testing. However, the differences between mean values of % Irregularity were significantly different between tasks. The % Irregularity obtained for the phrase, was significantly different from the values obtained for the sustained vowels and single words. The values for the latter two did not differ significantly. The difference between male and female Qx and % Irregularity values were not significant on t-testing except for % Irregularity for the word 'Ola', which was greater in men. Our findings show that for calculation of Qx either sustained vowel phonation, single words or phrases may be used. % Irregularity of vocal fold vibration is however task dependent.