Acoustic Analysis of Voice: A Tutorial

This tutorial reviews acoustic methods that have been used to characterize vocal function. The most persuasive argument for the use of acoustic measures is that all of the information used by listeners to make judgments about speech is to be found in the acoustic signal. Acoustic methods have been used clinically to differentiate normal from abnormal voices, to aid in differential diagnosis, to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different treatment approaches, and to track progress in voice therapy. The measures discussed here focus on quantifying the degree of periodicity, the shape of the spectrum, and the range of vocal intensity.