Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
1
/25 points
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
1. In order to produce loudness in an efficient, normal way, describe the role of:
a) Respiration
Respiration is the process of breathing. During the process of breathing, or
respiration, the lungs fill with oxygen, the ribcage moves outward and the
diaphragm moves downward. This process of taking in oxygen is called
inhalation. It occurs because positive air pressure from outside of the body
rushes in to the negative air pressure as the lungs are expanding. The
process also reverses as oxygen is expelled from the lungs. The lungs (or
chest cavity) decrease in size, the ribs return inward and the diaphragm
relaxes by moving upwards. This occurs because the positive air pressure
inside the lungs flows to the outside atmosphere where the air pressure is
negative. This expulsion of oxygen is called exhalation. It is important to
breath with your diaphragm with abdominal support. This means that the
stomach is pushed outward and the diaphragm is moved downward while the
lungs are inhaling oxygen. When the lungs are exhaling oxygen, the stomach
is pulled inward and the diaphragm is moved upward. In order to produce
loudness, you need healthy lungs that will naturally inhale a lot of air. .” This
air pressure is referred to as subglottal pressure that builds below the true
vocal folds. The subglottic region, where the subglottal pressure builds, is the
space below the true vocal folds and the cricoid cartilage. Ultimately, the
subglottal pressure builds so much that the covers of the true vocal folds are
blown apart. The farther apart the covers are blown, the higher the
amplitude, or height, of the sound wave in the true vocal folds will be. This
high amplitude is perceived by us as “loudness.”
b) Phonation
Phonation refers to the laryngeal system of human voice production.
(Although the main role of the larynx is vegetative, not phonatory.) The
function of the larynx is to protect the airway during swallowing. When
swallowing, the valve on top of the esophagus (the cricopharyngeal sphincter,
the upper esophageal sphincter – UES, or the pharyngeal-esophageal
segment – PE segment) that leads to the stomach closes when breathing in
air, but opens when swallowing food. When breathing in air, the trachea
(which leads to the lungs) is opened. The valve that protects us from
swallowing food into our lungs is called the laryngeal valve. Another function
of the larynx is for the true vocal folds to vibrate. This vibration produces
sound. This “sound” or voicing is called phonation. There are 3 levels in the
laryngeal valve. These levels provide added protection to that we do not
“accidentally” inhale food into our lungs and aspirate. These valves are
divided into 3 levels: the highest level valve refers to the aryepiglottic folds.
These folds close similar to a “purse-string.” The middle level valve refers to
the false vocal folds. These false vocal folds are also called the ventricular
folds. They close by coming together at the midline. The lowest level valve
refers to the true vocal folds. These vocal folds close in midline. The
process of closing is called ADDuction. (There are 2 pairs of adductor
muscles: a) the interarytenoid muscles that bring the arytenoids into midline;
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Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
2
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
and b) the lateral cricoarytenoids that “zip up” the vocal folds.) The
aryepiglottic folds and false vocal folds should not be involved during voicing
as this can lead to maladaptive compensation of the voice and can lead to
bad voice habits. All 3 levels are closed off during a vegetative state, such as
coughing, grunting, or clearing one’s throat. The true vocal folds are 1) open
for breathing, 2) closed for airway protection, and 3) vibrate to produce
sound. In order for efficient phonation to occur, the process of respiration (as
answered in question 1.a) needs to be functioning appropriately. In order for
phonation to occur, the true vocal folds need to ADDuct, or come together at
midline. There is subglottic pressure that begins to build below the true vocal
folds. As this pressure builds and builds, the true vocal folds are blown apart
and set into vibration. This vibration creates a sound source of phonation.
The airflow from the built up of subglottic pressure is what ultimately enables
the sound to be produced. This sound is then evaluated as to its quality,
pitch, and loudness.
Taking a small step back, there is a vocal fold vibration theory called
Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory of Vocal Fold Vibration. This theory (most
popular) proposes that the true vocal folds ADDuct throughout the phonation
process. As the air in the lungs is exhaled, and the subglottal pressure is
built up below these true vocal folds until the covers are blown apart, outward
and away from the midline, the air molecules are rushing through the glottis
bumping into the sides of the true vocal folds (kinetic pressure rising). This
rush of molecules or kinetic pressure (speed) causes the molecules on the
sides then to decrease in static pressure along the sides of the true vocal
folds which then causes the true vocal folds to come back to midline. This
process is called the Bernoulli Effect. It is believed that the true vocal folds
come back to midline because of elastic recoil – like stretching a rubber band
that bounces back once you let go.
b) Resonation
Resonation is the vibration of the supraglottal cavity. Resonance is what we
hear when the vocal folds vibrate. This resonance occurs in cavities above
and below the glottis. The cavities below the glottis are called subglottal
cavities and refer specifically to the trachea and chest cavity. The cavity
above the glottis is called the supraglottal cavity which contains the vocal
tract which is made up of the laryngapharynx, aropharynx, nasopharynx, oral
cavity, nasal cavities, and frontal sinuses. A sound wave is generated by
these vibrating vocal folds. This periodic sound wave is called the glottal
spectrum and it travels through the subglottal cavities below the glottis and
the Ventricles of Morgagni and vocal tract above the glottis. If supraglottal
cavities are large, then lower frequency overtones will be amplified, or have a
“larger” sound. If supraglottal cavities are small, higher frequency overtones
will be amplified, or have a “larger” sound. (Large cavity = lower frequency;
small cavity = higher frequency.) This glottal spectrum contains fundamental
frequencies (Fo) with multiple overtones. (These overtone frequencies are
220 Hz, 360 Hz, 480 Hz, 600 Hz, 720 Hz, etc.) These Fo can be referred to
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Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
3
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
as “pitch.” Fundamental frequencies are the number of cycles per second
that the vocal folds vibrate. These cycles are measured in hertz (Hz). When
velopharyngeal sounds resonate in the nasal cavities, a person has
velopharyngeal inadequacy because the velopharynx is open and too much
air is going into the nasal cavity. This is called hypernasality. When a person
has hyponasality/denasality, the velopharynx is closed and sounds like /m/,
/n/, and /ng/ cannot resonate in the nasal cavities because there is likely an
obstruction (such as enlarged adenoids) preventing the air from going
through the nasal cavity.
Optimal resonance is when the sound resonates in the “mask” on a person’s
face. This “mask” is the bony sinuses and alveolar ridge in the front of one’s
face, from the forehead down to the nose, and further down to the chin area.
This optimal resonance is referred to as frontal focus. This provides the voice
with a “rich” quality (or timbre) and there is no tension in the laryngeal area.
A richer sound is a louder sound.
(4)
2. Describe misusive:
a) Respiration
Respiration that is inefficient during inhalation is referred to as clavicular
breathing. When a person uses clavicular breathing, he is elevating his
shoulders and clavicular area (which is the scapula – the 2 triangles at the
back of the shoulders, and the collar bone). Because of this poor breathing
habit, the person develops tension around the larynx and neck. Most of the
upper thorax is expanded (the part between the neck and the abdomen). The
diaphragm is inadequately pressed downward and there is an inadequate
amount of air inhaled into the lungs.
b) Resonation
Resonation that is considered to be misused has 5 named disorders with
specific characteristics. The 5 disorders are: 1) hypernasality; 2)
hyponasality/denasality; 3) nasal cul-de-sac resonance; 4) oral cul-de-sac
resonance; and 5) back focus. Hypernasality is when the oral sounds
resonate in nasal cavities due to velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI). VPI is
the malfunctioning of the velopharyngeal mechanism. This mechanism is
responsible for transmitting air pressure and sound energy to the oral and
nasal cavities. When the mechanical “valve” does not function properly, by
closing, a person is considered to have “velopharyngeal inadequacy.”
Hyponasality/denasality is the resonance that is heard when the /m/, /n/, and
/ng/ sounds cannot resonate in the nasal cavities because of enlarged
adenoids in the velopharyngeal port. In nasal cul-de-sac resonance, the /m/,
/n/, and /ng/ sounds enter the nasal cavities the way they are supposed to,
but they are unable to get out of the nostrils, perhaps because of nasal
congestion or a deviated septum. Instead the sounds travel around and
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Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
4
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
around in the nasal cavities. Oral cul-de-sac resonance is when the sounds,
especially vowels, are trapped in the oropharynx behind the tongue, tongue
carriage, or behind very large tonsils. This person sounds like “Ernie” from
Sesame Street. This resonance may be heard, in spite of severe hearing
loss, possibly because it can provide tactile feedback of sounds. Back focus
is when sounds resonate primarily in a constricted pharynx (in the oropharynx
and laryngopharynx areas). Because of this, higher frequency overtones are
amplified as there is little laryngeal tension. The sound that resonates has a
shrill-like quality that sounds very tense.
(2)
3. Describe a therapeutic technique to elicit:
a) most efficient respiration
This is called diaphragmatic breathing with abdominal support. With this type
of breathing, a person is asked to inhale while pushing his stomach outward.
By doing this, the diaphragm drops down even further. This opens up the
thorax even more causing there to be no tension in the area. Once the lungs
have inhaled, they will want to exhale. An appropriate way to exhale is to pull
the stomach inward and make the thorax smaller. This will increase the
pressure inside the thorax and the air will be forced out of the lungs.
b) most efficient focus
This is called frontal focus. This is considered to be the optimal resonance as
it is produced when the sound resonates in the “mask” of the face. The
“mask” refers to the bony sinuses and the alveolar ridge in the front of the
face. It includes the forehead and extends down to the chin area. A voice
that speaks with frontal focus has a “rich” quality to it. This quality is known
as “timbre.” A person who uses frontal focus will not have tension in his
laryngeal area.
(2)
4. Paula is a 5 foot, 2 inch, 40 year old female who speaks in a pitch range of 120
Hz- 140 Hz. What could be causing her to speak in this pitch range?
An adult female should be speaking in an optimal pitch range of 200 Hz. Pitch
(or Fo) is the rate of vibration of the vocal fold covers and is determined by mass,
length, and tension of the vocal folds. If the vocal folds have a high mass, then
the Fo will be low. The greater the mass of the vocal folds, the lower the Fo. If
the vocal folds have a long length, then the Fo will be high. The greater the
length of the vocal folds, the higher the Fo. If the vocal folds are tense, then the
Fo will be high. The greater the tension of the vocal folds, the higher the Fo will
be. In order for a voice to sound clear and smooth (harmonic), each vocal fold
needs to be symmetrical in mass, length, and tension. When vocal folds are
healthy, their covers come together completely, which is the entire length of the
glottis.
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Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
5
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
Paula could be speaking with this elevated pitch because of a glottal gap. A
glottal gap occurs when the vocal folds cannot fully adduct to make complete
closure. Since Paula has a low pitch, it is assumed that she has a higher vocal
fold mass, a shortened vocal fold length, and vocal folds with weak tension.
Thus, the mass, length, and tension of the vocal folds affects a person’s pitch.
It is also possible that Paula’s cricothyroid muscles are not working properly
because of the increased vocal fold mass. The cricothyroid muscles are
responsible for stretching and elongating the vocal folds. They are known as
“pitch elevators.”
(2)
5. John is a 50 year old male patient who produces pitches only in the 250 – 350
Hz range. Sometimes he coughs after swallowing liquid. He has a weak cough.
Which intrinsic laryngeal muscle(s) and laryngeal nerve(s) are not working well
(2)
Because of his weak cough and swallowing difficulties, the intrinsic muscle pairs
in John’s larynx that are not working properly are his interarytenoid muscles (IA)
and his lateral cricoarytenoids (LCA).
The laryngeal nerve that is not functioning properly is the recurrent laryngeal
nerve because it innervates the IA, LCA, and thyroarytenoid (TA) muscles.
6.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Mary is a 50 year old female, 5 foot 3 inches in height, and weighs 135 lbs.
What intrinsic laryngeal muscles are activated when she:
Coughs (1) IA and LCA
Swallows (1) IA and LCA
Breathes quietly (1) Posterior cricoarytenoids (PCA)
Says “Pretty puppies” at 350 Hz. List each phoneme separately. Next to each
phoneme, state the intrinsic laryngeal muscle(s) activated (5)
This person is speaking in a high pitch range:
/p/: PCA
/r/: IA + LCA + CT
/I /: IA + LCA + CT
/t/: PCA
/i/: IA + LCA + CT
/p/: PCA
/a/: IA + LCA + CT
/p /: PCA
/i/: IA + LCA + CT
/z/: IA + LCA + CT
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Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
6
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
7. Jared has a swollen area on his left vocal fold. When his vocal folds adduct,
there is a posterior glottal gap.
a) Name two quality features that you might hear: diplophonia and breathy
quality.
b) State if his pitch would be high, low or normal: low.
(3)
8. The theory of vocal fold vibration, Myo-elastic-aerodynamic theory, suggests that
(select one answer):
(2)
a) Throughout vocal fold cover vibration, the vocal fold bodies have to be in the
adducted position. Subglottic pressure is created by esophageal air collecting
underneath the adducted vocal folds. Subglottic pressure is essential in blowing the
covers apart, outward, and away from midline. The Bernoulli Effect and elastic recoil
cause the covers to return midline, and touching each other. The Bernoulli Effect is
caused by a drop in static pressure along the sides of the glottis. The static pressure
drops when the kinetic pressure of the molecules along the sides of the glottis increase.
b) Throughout vocal fold cover vibration, the vocal fold bodies have to be in the
adducted position. Subglottic pressure is created by pulmonary air collecting underneath
the adducted vocal folds. Subglottic pressure is essential in blowing the covers apart,
outward, and away from midline. The Bernoulli Effect and elastic recoil cause the covers
to return midline, and touching each other. The Bernoulli Effect is caused by an increase
in static pressure along the sides of the glottis. The static pressure drops when the
kinetic pressure of the molecules along the sides of the glottis decrease.
c) Throughout vocal fold cover vibration, the vocal fold bodies have to be in the
adducted position. Subglottic pressure is created by pulmonary air collecting
underneath the adducted vocal folds. Subglottic pressure is essential in blowing
the covers apart, outward, and away from midline. The Bernoulli Effect and elastic
recoil cause the covers to return midline, and touching each other. The Bernoulli
Effect is caused by a drop in static pressure along the sides of the glottis. The
static pressure drops when the kinetic pressure of the molecules along the sides
of the glottis increase.
d) Throughout vocal fold cover vibration, the vocal fold bodies have to be in the
abducted position. Subglottic pressure is created by pulmonary air collecting underneath
the adducted vocal folds. Subglottic pressure is essential in blowing the covers apart,
outward, and away from midline. The Bernoulli Effect and elastic recoil cause the covers
to return midline, and touching each other. The Bernoulli Effect is caused by a drop in
static pressure along the sides of the glottis. The static pressure drops when the kinetic
pressure of the molecules along the sides of the glottis increase.
e) Throughout vocal fold cover vibration, the vocal fold bodies have to be in the
adducted position. Subglottic pressure is created by pulmonary air collecting underneath
6
Assignment #1: (25 points) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN
WORDS. Winter 2014 Dr. Hélène R. Fisher
7
the adducted vocal folds. Subglottic pressure is essential in blowing the covers apart,
outward, and away from midline. The Bernoulli Effect and elastic recoil cause the covers
Name: Martina Randall
ID#:N01114986
to return midline, and touching each other. The Bernoulli Effect is caused by a drop in
kinetic pressure along the sides of the glottis. The kinetic pressure drops when the static
pressure of the molecules along the sides of the glottis increase.
TOTAL:
7
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