Acoustic changes in voice after tonsillectomy

Author(s): Hirose, H.

Journal/Book: Acta Oto-Laryngol. 1996; PO Box 2959 Toyen, Journal Division, Customer Service, N-0608 Oslo, Norway. Scandinavian University Press. 239-241.

Abstract: The vocal tract from the glottis to the lips is considered to be a resonator and the voice is changeable depending upon the shape of the vocal tract. In this report, we examined the change in pharyngeal size and acoustic feature of voice after tonsillectomy. Methods: Subjects were 20 patients. The distance between both anterior pillars (glossopalatine arches), and between both posterior pillars (pharyngopalatine arches) was measured weekly. For acoustic measurements. the five Japanese vowels and Japanese conversational sentences were recorded and analyzed. Results: The distance between both anterior pillars became wider 2 weeks postoperatively, and tended to become narrower thereafter. The distance between both posterior pillars became wider even after 4 weeks postoperatively. No consistent changes in F0, F1 and F2 were found after surgery. Although there was a tendency for a decrease in F3, tonsillectomy did not appear to change the acoustical features of the Japanese vowels remarkably. It was assumed that the subject may adjust the shape of the vocal tract to produce consistent speech sounds after the surgery using auditory feedback.

Note: Article H Saida, Asoka Hosp, Dept Otolaryngol, Kouto Ku, 1-18-1 Sumiyoshi, Tokyo 135, Japan

Keyword(s): vocal tract; fundamentalfrequency; format frequency; anterior pillars; posterior pillars

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