M Y Chen1, R Metson. 1. Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of sinus surgery on the production and perception of speech. DESIGN: Vocal recordings were performed before, 1 week after, and at least 1 month after sinus surgery. Acoustic spectra were analyzed for nasal consonants /m/ and /n/, nasalized vowels, and nonnasalized vowels. Results for nasal consonants were compared with similar recordings obtained from a group of normal subjects with no history of sinus disease. Perceptual analysis of nasalized vowels was conducted by trained phoneticians. SETTING: Private practice at an academic medical center. SUBJECTS: Five patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and 3 normal subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The spectral characteristics and perceptual attributes of nasal sounds. RESULTS: Significant differences in spectral properties were observed for the consonants and nasalized vowels recorded before and after surgery (P < .001). Perceptual experiments for nasalized vowels demonstrated a postoperative decrease in nasality for the high vowel /i/, as in "beep," and an increase in nasality for the non-high vowel /ae/, as in "bad." These perceived changes correlated well with acoustic measures of nasal peak amplitudes and the lowest resonance peak amplitude of the vocal tract. CONCLUSIONS: Sinus surgery results in measurable effects on the produced acoustic signal and the perceived nasality of a patient's speech. The identified acoustic correlates may be useful for preoperative counseling of patients concerning expected changes in speech quality following surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of sinus surgery on the production and perception of speech. DESIGN: Vocal recordings were performed before, 1 week after, and at least 1 month after sinus surgery. Acoustic spectra were analyzed for nasal consonants /m/ and /n/, nasalized vowels, and nonnasalized vowels. Results for nasal consonants were compared with similar recordings obtained from a group of normal subjects with no history of sinus disease. Perceptual analysis of nasalized vowels was conducted by trained phoneticians. SETTING: Private practice at an academic medical center. SUBJECTS: Five patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and 3 normal subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The spectral characteristics and perceptual attributes of nasal sounds. RESULTS: Significant differences in spectral properties were observed for the consonants and nasalized vowels recorded before and after surgery (P < .001). Perceptual experiments for nasalized vowels demonstrated a postoperative decrease in nasality for the high vowel /i/, as in "beep," and an increase in nasality for the non-high vowel /ae/, as in "bad." These perceived changes correlated well with acoustic measures of nasal peak amplitudes and the lowest resonance peak amplitude of the vocal tract. CONCLUSIONS: Sinus surgery results in measurable effects on the produced acoustic signal and the perceived nasality of a patient's speech. The identified acoustic correlates may be useful for preoperative counseling of patients concerning expected changes in speech quality following surgery.
Authors: Soo Kweon Koo; Soon Bok Kwon; Kyong Myong Chon; Yang Jae Kim; Young Joong Kim Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2014-10-28 Impact factor: 2.503