MEANINGFUL FEATURES OF VOICE RANGE PROFILES FROM PATIENTS WITH ORGANIC VOCAL FOLD PATHOLOGY - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

This preliminary study identifies features that have the potential to be meaningful descriptors of voice range profiles (VRPs) for 15 patien ts with organic vocal fold pathologies before and after laryngeal surg ery. This study also explores the utility of the VRP as an outcome mea sure of change in vocal function after surgery. Potentially meaningful features for these patients are the semitone range, intensity level o f the lower contour, frequency locus of the lower frequency values, sm oothness of the contours, and the presence of intermittencies in the V RP contours. These features are not suggested for differential diagnos is, but for aiding the understanding of each individual patient's phon atory status. Initial use of these features suggests that the VRP may be a useful outcome measure for these patients.