A LONGITUDINAL PILOT-STUDY ON PHONETOGRAMS VOICE PROFILES IN PRE-PUBERTAL CHOIR BOYS

The phonetogram or voice profile, measuring frequency combined with in tensity of the voice, has replaced simple measurement of tone ranges f or analysis of professional boys choirs. Knowledge of the relationship between pubertal, sex hormones, and phonetogram development has been estabished in stratified studies. The connection between the singing v oice in puberty and other pubertal phenomena needs documentation in lo ngitudinal studies also. Therefore, a pilot study was carried out, whe re three boys aged 13-15 years were analysed at intervals of 2 months. Measurement of phonetograms, free and total serum testosterone and se x hormone binding globulin (SHBG) showed a significant relationship be tween SHBG and lowering of the lowest tones in the phonetograms (P < 0 .01) confirming earlier stratified studies.