Phonation M6

Question 1

sound production

Answer 1

• expired air coming to meet these true vocal folds that are found in our larynx
• phonation is how we produce our sound
• caused by true vocal folds being vibrated via expired air acting upon them
• true vocal folds have to ability to abduct (medially compressed position which is anchored upon forces of the muscles) and adduct

Question 2

vocal attacks

Answer 2

1. simultaneous attack - air released as folds compress - most words
2. breathy attack - air released B4 folds compress eg ‘ Harry’
3. glottal attack - folds compress B4 air is released “I” - all vowels

Question 3

what do vocal attacks refer to?

Answer 3

• timing in which air hits glottis and vocal cords do something

Question 4

what happens to the true vocal folds during voicing?

Answer 4

• true vocal folds strengthen, lengthen, abduct and adduct

Question 5

phonation - vocal cord vibration

Answer 5

• abrupt cessation of airflow that creates the acoustic disturbance heard as our voice
• expired air is the driving force of the speech- manipulate air
  nasal cavity, oral cavity, tongue position, articulators all also assist in making these sounds

Question 6

steps in phonation

Answer 6

1. vocal folds are compressed together
2. air pressure from trachea rises to exert pressure on the vocal fold - to push them apart
3. medial surface of vocal folds seperate at bottom first and return to midline at the bottom first
4. vocal folds suck back together - adduct
5. then expired air hits bottom part causing them to separate according to force of exhalation

b/c of the Bernoulli effect cause vibration of vocal folds

Question 7

Bernoulli effect

Answer 7

” if volume flow is constant, velocity must increase at an area of constriction, but have a corresponding decrease of pressure at the constriction”

-for vocal cords - force of air pushes fold apart and negative pressure created pulls them back together

Question 8

vibration - caused by pressure

Answer 8

• high intraglottal pressure pushes vocal folds away from midline
• elastic recoil of tissue overcomes Pg and lower edges of vocal folds move towards midline - ‘sucked back’

Question 9

fundamental frequency

Answer 9

• fundamental frequency - rate of vocal fold vibration - expressed in Hertz, cycles/ second
  
  • closest perceptual correlate = pitch
• control of fundamental frequency is primarily vested in the larynx

Question 10

what determines the fundamental frequency?

Answer 10

• determined by vocal fold stiffness and their effective vibrating mass - STIFFNESS is important
  
  • stiffer the vocal cords the higher rate or
    vibrating
• higher vibration higher the pitch- vice versa

Question 11

mechanism of longitudinal tension

Answer 11

• changing the length and tension of the vocal folds, changes the rate of vocal fold vibration = frequency
• normal phonation produces range of frequencies/ pitches

Question 12

what are the average for fundamental freq. for males and females?

Answer 12

male is 130 Hz and female is 220 Hz

Question 13

what mechanism will assist in changing vocal fold stiffness?

Answer 13

the most important mechanism for changing vocal fold stiffness ( and fundamental frequency) is through the external force exerted by the cricothyroid muscles and the internal force exerted through thyroarytenoid muscles (made up of vocalis and muscularis parts)

Question 14

what are 2 laryngeal mechanisms for changing fundamental frequency?

Answer 14

1. medial compression amount can change the effective mass of the vibrating portions of the vocal folds and thereby change fundamental frequency/ pitch
2. laryngeal elevation or depression can change vocal fold stiffness and thereby after fundamental frequency/ pitch

Question 15

raising pitch

Answer 15

• lengthening and tensing the vocal folds increase the frequency of vibration
  
  • stretched (thin) and tense
  • increases pitch
  • subglottal pressure increases

Question 16

what muscles aid in raising pitch?

Answer 16

• muscles
  
  • cricothyroid
  • posterior cricoarytenoids
  • thyroarytenoids
• raising larynx
  
  • thyrohyroid muscles

Question 17

lowering pitch

Answer 17

• shortening and relaxing vocal folds decreases the frequency of vibration
  
  • short and thick
  • decreases pitch

Question 18

what is involved in lowering pitch?

Answer 18

• muscles
  
  • thyroartenoids
• lowering the larymx
  
  • sternothyroid

Question 19

what happens to the true vocal folds as pitch in voice gets higher

Answer 19

vocal cords lengthen

Question 20

possible sounds - breathiness

Answer 20

raspy, weak or airy quality to the voice

Question 21

possible sounds - glottal fry

Answer 21

the lowest vocal register + produced through a loose glottal closure that permits air to bubble through slowly w a popping or rattling sound of a very low frequency

Question 22

possible sounds - falsetto

Answer 22

method of voice production used by male singers, especially to sing notes higher than normal range

Question 23

possible sounds - whisper

Answer 23

voiced sounds like vowel are produced by forcing air through a narrow posterior glottal chink

Question 24

phonation - development

Answer 24

• during infancy and childhood larynx enlarge and descends within the neck
• fundamental frequency decreases across infancy and childhood in boys and girls

Question 25

phonation - aging

Answer 25

• cartilages ossify and calcify, muscle atrophy, connective and epithelial tissues change
• glottal configuration may change with age
• overall slowing of movements

Question 26

phonation - gender

Answer 26

• fundamental frequency is related to vocal fold mass which is related to overall size (mostly height) and angle of thyroid cartilage ( sharper angle in males)
• males have lower FFA than females post puberty

Question 27

voice disorders

Answer 27

• 7 to 9% of children to 5 t0 6% of adults will have a voice problem
• women are more likely to develop voice problems than men
• certain ppl. are more likely to experience voice problems - occupational voice users( eg. teachers), most at risk - up to 60% experiencing a voice problem at least once during their career

Question 28

common cause voice disorders

Answer 28

• Vocal misuse/abuse, e.g. young children screaming/yelling; professional voice
  users; excessive throat clearing
• Nerve damage, e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, head and neck surgery
• Trauma, e.g. football injury
• Neurodegenerative disorders, e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neuron Disease
• Normal aging process (presbyphonia)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Illnesses, such as colds or upper respiratory tract infections.
• Smoking – laryngeal cancer

Question 30

what needs to happen for vocal quality to be clear and not raspy?

Answer 30

vocal folds must vibrate together symmetrically and regularly

Question 31

what is a nasendoscopy?

Answer 31

• examination of the nose, upper airways and Larynx by the use of a small flexible tube (endoscope).
• quick, minor and painless procedure that is usually performed in the clinical setting.
• the procedure includes a small camera passed through the nostril + passed to the back of the nasal cavity towards the pharynx.
• A nasendoscopy can be used to assess vocal function and/or swallowing function.