Mean F0 Values Obtained Through Standard Phrase Pronunciation Compared With Values Obtained From the Normal Work Environment: A Study on Teacher and Child Voices Performed in a Preschool Environment
| Document type: | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Article type: | Original article |
| Peer reviewed: | Yes |
| Author(s): | Fredric Lindström, Ann-Christine Ohlsson, Jonas Sjöholm, Kerstin Persson Waye |
| Title: | Mean F0 Values Obtained Through Standard Phrase Pronunciation Compared With Values Obtained From the Normal Work Environment: A Study on Teacher and Child Voices Performed in a Preschool Environment |
| Journal: | Journal of Voice |
| Year: | 2010 |
| Volume: | 24 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pagination: | 319-323 |
| ISSN: | 0892-1997 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| URI/DOI: | 10.1016/j.jvoice.2008.10.006 |
| Organization: | Blekinge Institute of Technology |
| Department: | School of Engineering - Dept. of Electrical Engineering (Sektionen för ingenjörsvetenskap - Avd. för elektroteknik) School of Engineering S-371 79 Karlskrona +46 455 38 50 00 http://www.bth.se/ing/ |
| Authors e-mail: | fredric.lindstrom@amm.gu.se, jonas.sjoholm@bth.se |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Mean fundamental frequency (F0) values are often used in research on vocal load. In this study we examine how the mean F0 differs when evaluated through pronouncing a standard phrase as compared to the mean F0 obtained in a real work/play environment. We also examine how the F0 values change throughout the day. The study was performed in a pre-school, nine adults, all female pre-school teachers, and eleven children participated. The participants wore a digital recorder equipped with an accelerometer, which was attached to the neck. In the study, a participant first pronounced a standard phrase in a controlled environment, thereafter, the voice was recorded in the environment where both children and adults normally reside throughout the day, denoted the work/play environment. For each participant the procedure was repeated four times throughout the day. Analyses showed that the F0 values of the children’s and adult’s voices were significantly higher when recorded in the work/play environment as compared to the controlled environment. The average difference was 36Hz for adults and 24Hz for children. Previous studies have shown an increase of F0 over the day for teachers. In this study an increase between morning and afternoon values was found amounting to 8Hz for adults and 24Hz for children. For the child population this increase was statistically significant. However, the total changes over the day revealed a somewhat more complex scheme, with an increase of F0 in the morning a decrease during lunch and finally an increase in the afternoon. This pattern was verified statistically for the joint child-adult population. |
| Subject: | Signal Processing\General |
| Keywords: | Occupational voice, Fundamental frequency, Work environment, Preschool |
