EFFECTS OF SINUS SURGERY ON SPEECH

Objective: To determine the effects of sinus surgery on the production and perception of speech. Design: Vocal recordings were performed bef ore, 1 week after, and at least 1 month after sinus surgery. Acoustic spectra were analyzed for nasal consonants /m/ and /n/, nasalized vowe ls, and nonnasalized vowels. Results for nasal consonants were compare d with similar recordings obtained from a group of normal subjects wit h no history of sinus disease. Perceptual analysis of nasalized vowels was conducted by trained phoneticians. Setting: Private practice at a n academic medical center. Subjects: Five patients who underwent endos copic sinus surgery and 3 normal subjects. Main Ou)come Measures: The spectral characteristics and perceptual attributes of nasal sounds. Re sults: Significant differences in spectral properties were observed fo r the consonants and nasalized vowels recorded before and after surger y (P<.001). Perceptual experiments for nasalized vowels demonstrated a postoperative decrease in nasality for the high vowel /i/, as in ''be ep,'' and an increase in nasality for the non-high vowel /ae/, as in ' 'bad.'' These perceived changes correlated well with acoustic measures of nasal peak amplitudes and the lowest resonance peak amplitude of t he vocal tract. Conclusions: Sinus surgery results in measurable effec ts on the produced acoustic signal and the perceived nasality of a pat ient's speech. The identified acoustic correlates may be useful for pr eoperative counseling of patients concerning expected changes in speec h quality following surgery.