Acoustic and capacity analysis of the vocal organ in patients with functional and organic larynx disorders using the DiagnoScope Specialist software

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the acoustic and capacity analysis of singing voice using DiagnoScope Specialist software. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 131 adult subjects, including 74 women and 46 men aged 21–51, divided into 3 groups: I – 40 subjects (treatment group) – professional vocalists, II – 40 subjects (treatment group) – semiprofessional vocalists, III – 40 subjects (control group) – students of The Military Medical Faculty at the Medical University of Lodz – nonsingers. The research methodology included: primary medical history, physical examination (otolaryngological), videolaryngoscopic examination, the GRBAS scale for subjective voice evaluation, diagnostic voice acoustic and capacity analysis using DiagnoScope Specialist software, survey on lifestyle patterns which may affect voice quality. R esults: Average value of the fundamental frequency F0 was the highest in professional vocalists group; it was 316.46 Hz in women and 165.09 Hz in men. In semiprofessional vocalists group it was accordingly 260.50 Hz and 149.26 Hz, in nonsingers group it was accordingly 261.23 Hz and 159.27 Hz. The mean value of Jitter parameter in professional vocalists group was 0.30% in women and 0.54% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists group it was accordingly 0.31% and 0.57%, in nonsingers group it was 0.31% and 0.56%. The mean value of Shimmer parameter in professional vocalists group was 3.27% in women and 3.75% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists group it was accordingly 3.46% and 3.77%, in nonsingers group it was 4.33% and 4.39%. The mean value of the NHR index in professional vocalists group was 3.28% in women and 6.00% in men, in semiprofessional vocalists group it was accordingly 3.23% and 6.72%, in nonsingers group it was 3.89% and 6.13%. Conclusions: Values of the parameters which measure the character of the voice, relative period-to-period fundamental frequency perturbations, relative period-to-period amplitude perturbation and level of buzzing together with other methods have diagnostic and predictive value in early detection of voice disorders. Capacity analysis in singing voice showed very low values of the following parameters: phonation time, true phonation time, no phonation coefficient, voice efficiency coefficient and voice capacity.