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. 2007 Sep-Oct;73(5):675-83.
doi: 10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30129-4.

Lombard's effect's implication in intensity, fundamental frequency and stability on the voice of individuals with Parkinson's disease

Araken Quedas  1 , André de Campos Duprat, Gisele Gasparini
Affiliations

Lombard's effect's implication in intensity, fundamental frequency and stability on the voice of individuals with Parkinson's disease

Araken Quedas et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2007 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease affects the central nervous system resulting in voice quality alterations. It is typically resistant to drug therapy and often persists despite extensive behavioural speech and language therapy. Previous findings show that masking noise will produce a consistent increase in voice intensity in most normal individuals (Lombard's effect).

Aim: we evaluated Lombard's effect's implication in intensity, fundamental frequency and stability on the voice of individuals with Parkinson's disease (N=17).

Material and methods: through acoustic analysis, we evaluated intensity alterations and fundamental frequency, before and after white masking noise 40, 70 and 90 dBSL intensities, as well as variations during each vocalization and compared with a control group (N=16).

Results: voice intensity varied according to masking intensity, tending to non-linear increases in both groups and gender. Fundamental frequency varied, tending to non-linear increase in both groups and gender. Improvement stability occurred in fundamental frequency and vocal intensity.

Conclusion: Lombard's effect increased intensity, fundamental frequency and improves voice stability on these patients.

Study: clinical and experimental.

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Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Vocal utterance intensity (dB), according to auditory masking intensity in the Control Group, males and females.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Vocal utterance intensity (dB), according to auditory masking intensity in the Parkinson’s Group, males and females.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Vocal utterance intensity standard deviation (dB), according to auditory masking intensity, Control and Parkinson’s Group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Vocal utterance intensity standard deviation (dB), according to auditory masking intensity, Control group, males and females.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Vocal utterance intensity standard deviation (dB), according to auditory masking intensity, Parkinson’s Group males and females.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Vocal utterance frequency (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Control and Parkinson’s groups.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Vocal utterance frequency (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Control group, males and females.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Vocal utterance frequency (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Parkinson’s group, males and females.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Vocal utterance frequency standard deviation (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Control and Parkinson’s groups.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Vocal utterance frequency standard deviation (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Control group, males and females.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Vocal utterance frequency standard deviation (Hz), according to auditory masking intensity, Parkinson’s group, males and females.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Vocal utterance intensity (dB), according to auditory masking intensity in the Control and Parkinson’s Groups.
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