Vocal Mirror - Electronic Voice Analysis for Therapeutic Diagnosis and Rehabilitation Group 21: Joe Owens-Ream Advisor: Dr. Tom Cleveland

Motivation  Many professional singers and speakers develop vocal problems through misuse of their own talking or singing voice.  This unnecessary wear can lead to problems such as vocal nodules, vocal polyps, cysts, and other voice disorders of unknown etiology, and eventual loss of voice.  By retraining the patient to correctly use their voice, a speech pathologist saves their voice.

Common Symptoms  Common symptoms include: vocal fatigue, increased vocal effort, lack of vocal quality and/or overall volume, hoarse or raspy voice, voice breaks, and breathy voice.  If the patient is a singer, the patient may additionally show a loss of high notes, unstable pianissimo (quiet) phonation, and increased breathiness throughout the singing range.

Incidence of Voice Disorders  The prevalence of voice disorders in children up to 14 is about 6%.  In adulthood this decreases to as low as 1% but increases to 6.5% for those 45 to 70.  It is indicated in this study that these numbers for the adult population are low and that many voice disorders remain untreated or even unnoticed for years.

Incidence (continued)  Disorders of vocal abuse and misuse are the most prevalent and preventable types of voice disorders.  The frequency of repeated vocal nodule occurrence ranges from 15% to 35%.  Of the total working population in the United States, approximately 25% have jobs that critically require voice use, and 3% of the population have occupations in which their voice is necessary for public safety.

Your Voice  Sound is produced by vibrations induced when air is passed by vocal folds.  Wear and misuse can lead to nodes and cysts.  Such wear often happens without the patient’s knowledge.  Speaking at the incorrect optimal pitch, usually too low or in the Vocal Fry range.

Problems of Current System  Time spent in voice clinic  Feedback through speech pathologist  No take-home version  Lack of visual and aural representation of problems

Working Solution The goal of the device is to, from a live signal or recording, extrapolate data about the frequency and amplitude usage of the speaker's/singer's voice. This data will be analyzed by the system and output information on the pattern of voice usage, and provide real-time suggestions for use. This data can then be used to diagnose speaking/singing problems or bad tendencies.

Possible modes of application  VI exported through LabView’s Application Builder  PC/Mac (Laptop)w/ sound-card  PDA w/ audio capabilities  Specifically a Win- CE platform

Flow Chart of Design

Flow Chart of Virtual Instrument

Goals  Short term:  Continue testing of device and VI  Finish LabView VI to input, display, and analyze audio signal, and connect through LabView Player to A/D board and mike on laptop or possibly in a PDA.  Design various analysis sequences to output statistics or live audio information.  Long term:  Design portable device to be carried/worn by patient  Design device hardware for use in pathologist's clinic

Work Completed  Near completion of VI with logging and visualization capabilities  Researched possible overlap with current devices and software  Evaluated LabView’s signal analysis options and built in VIs  Further narrowing of design definition  Researched the physics of sound waves and the physiology of the voice and vocal disorders.

Equipment and Costs  Microphone  A/D Board already owned in laptop  Use of LabView software is free in BME computer lab and LabView player is free to download  Projected final costs: minimal to none

Further Work  Continue work in LabView on signal analysis suite  Create working prototype  Test prototype with Dr. Cleveland  Create board presentation  Create a PDA version

Contact Information   Joe Owens-Ream  Dr. Tom Cleveland

Sources  Leske, 1981 and Marge, et al.,  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools. (1993, March). Definitions of communication disorders and variations. Asha, 35 (Suppl.10),  Ramig, L.O., & Verdolini, K. (1998, February). Treatment efficacy: Voice disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 41, S101-S116.  Pannbacker, M. (1999, August). Treatment of vocal nodules: Options and outcomes. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 8,  National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (1999, May). Disorders of vocal abuse and misuse (NIH Pub. No ). Bethesda, MD: Author.