Speech and voice range profiles of adults with untrained normal voices: Methodological implications

Abstract

Automatic recordings were made of speech and voice range profiles for 63 vocally healthy Australian men and women without voice training (30 males and 33 females aged 21 to 65 years). Test-retest reliability, evaluated for a subgroup, was high. Speech range profile results were consistent with results reported by others. However, voice range profiles were larger than shown in several previous studies. Nevertheless, voice range profiles were consistent with results reported for a recent study that used a similar elicitation and recording protocol and similar equipment. Results are discussed with reference to methodological issues important for reliable phonetogram recordings. The data may also be clinically useful for comparisons between disordered and healthy voices if similar equipment and elicitation and recording protocols are used.

Key words::

• Male–female voice
• phonetogram
• speech range profile
• voice range profile
• voice assessment

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cameron Grant, Senior Technical Officer, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University and to Hans Larsson, Civil Engineer, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, for their assistance with the technical aspects of this study. Thanks also to Maria Södersten, Speech Language Pathologist and Associate Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, for her scientific advice in the preparation of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.