HIGH-FREQUENCY POWER RATIO OF BREATHY VOICE

Digital technological advances have made detailed voice analysis possi ble. This report proposes, with the use of such equipment, a new metho d of quantifying differences in the high-frequency content of normal a nd breathy voices. The high-frequency power ratio, a ratio of high-fre quency power versus total power, was calculated as the lower limit of the high-frequency range (Fc) and varied from 1 to 10 kHz. The high-fr equency power ratio values of two groups, 16 normal and 24 breathy voi ce individuals, were then compared. Three breathy individuals were als o studied after type I thyroplasty. High-frequency power ratio values measured at an Fc of 6 kHz significantly separated normal from breathy voices. The specifications provided are appropriate for both the comm ercial voice lab and for clinical resources. Furthermore, a high-frequ ency power ratio (6 kHz) is a useful tool for the evaluation of phonos urgery.