Objective: The aim of this study is confirmation of the two assumptions: 1) The possibility of using computerized acoustic speech analysis of singing boys to determine the onset of mutation; 2) The ability to monitor the mutation process remotely using a smart phone. Material and Methods: Thirty singing boys from two groups were examined. The first group consisted of 15 subjects aged 11 years 10 months to 12 years 4 months. The second group consisted of 15 subjects aged 12 years 10 months to 13 years 2 months. The investigation included laryngoscopy and an acoustic test. Fundamental frequency of speech (SF0) was determined using computer program Praat. Adolescents read standard text for 10-15 seconds. In 10 adolescents from the second group, who had difficulty while singing high notes, the mutation was monitored remotely. For this purpose, the text was recorded by the adolescent on a personal smartphone 4 times per year at 3 months' intervals. The sound files were sent via the Internet to the acoustic laboratory for SF0 estimation. Results: It was found that the mean SF0 value in subjects of the second group was lower than in subjects of the first group. This could be considered as the beginning of a mutation in the majority of adolescents of the second group. Remote monitoring of the mutation revealed a decrease in SF0 magnitudes in all subjects during 9th to 12th month. Conclusion: Acoustic speech analysis is suitable for determining the onset of vocal mutation in singing boys. This process can be monitored remotely using smartphones.
Keywords: Vocal mutation; fundamental frequency of speech
Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı iki varsayımın doğrulanmasıdır: 1) Ses değişiminin ortaya çıkışını belirlemek için kompüterize akustik konuşma analizinin kullanılmasının olabilirliği; 2) Akıllı telefon kullanılarak ses değişimi sürecinin uzaktan gözlenebilirliği. Gereç ve Yöntemler: İki gruptan 30 çocuk değerlendirildi. İlk grup yaşları 11 yıl 10 ay ile 12 yıl 4 ay arasında olan 15 çocuktan oluşuyordu. İkinci grupta 12 yıl 10 ay ile 13 yıl 2 ay arasında 15 çocuk yer alıyordu. Araştırma laringoskopi ve akustik testten oluşuyordu. Temel konuşma frekansı (TKF) Praat bilgisayar programı kullanılarak belirlendi. Adolesanlar standart metni 10-15 saniye okudular. İkinci gruptan yüksek notaları okumakta zorlanan 10 adolesanda ses değişimi uzaktan gözlendi. Bu amaçla, metin adolesan tarafından her yıl 3 ay aralarla 4 kez akıllı telefona kaydedildi. TKF belirlenmesi için, ses dosyaları İnternet üzerinden akustik laboratuvarına gönderildi. Bulgular: Ortalama TKF değerinin ikinci gruptakilerde birinci gruptakilerden daha düşük olduğu bulundu. Bu, ikinci gruptaki adolesanların çoğunda ses değişiminin başlangıcı olarak düşünülebilir. Ses değişiminin uzaktan gözlemlenmesi tüm deneklerde 9.-12. aylarda TKF büyüklüğünde bir azalma olduğunu ortaya koydu. Sonuç: Şarkı söyleyen erkek çocuklarda ses değişiminin ortaya çıkışını belirlemede akustik ses analizi uygundur. Bu süreç akıllı telefon kullanılarak uzaktan gözlemlenebilir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Ses değişimi; temel konuşma frekansı
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