Correlation between voice and auditory processing

Author(s)

Janine Santos Ramos

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Bauru.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB/SDB)
• Defense date: 2015-02-25

Examining board members

Mariza Ribeiro Feniman; Ingrid Gielow; Kelly Cristina Alves Silverio

• Advisor: Mariza Ribeiro Feniman

Abstract

Introduction: The literature reveals a possible relationship between auditory processing and dysphonia particularly with regard to acoustic voice parameters (frequency, intensity and duration). Therefore, a patient who has hearing difficulties to analyze and discriminate one of these parameters, probably also present difficulty to reproduce them vocally, which could explain the lack of progress of the therapeutic process. In vocal practice, the evaluation of vocal tonal reproduction could help to identify dysphonic patient difficulties that could be related to auditory processing disorders, contributing to the speech differential diagnosis. Aim: To compare the performance of dysphonic women without vocal alterations in auditory processing tests and vocal tonal reproduction test and correlate the auditory processing tests used with the vocal tonal reproduction test. Methodology: The study included 40 women, aged 18-44 years, divided into two groups: Group Dysphonic (20 dysphonic) and Group not Dysphonic (20 not dysphonic). After signing the Free Informed Consent Form, the study participants underwent an interview, audiological evaluation, otorhinolaryngological, Vocal (voice record, assessment of vocal tonal reproduction through phonetography) and auditory processing evaluation - through sonorous test of Pitch Pattern Sequence (PPS) and Duration Pattern Sequence (DPS), Time-Compressed Speech test- monosyllabic and disyllabic lists (TCS- mono/TCS-di) and Non-Verbal Dichotic Test (NVDT). Statistical analysis was performed using the following tests: Mann-Whitney test, Fisher exact test and Spearman correlation. Results: There were significant differences in the comparison of performance of dysphonic and not dysphonic in PPS test and TCS-monosyllables test and vocal tonal reproduction test, in which the non-dysphonic performed better. There was a positive correlation between the PPS, DPS, TCS (monosyllabic and disyllabic) with the vocal tonal reproduction test. Conclusions: Women dysphonic present alterations in some auditory processing abilities, such as: discrimination of sound patterns related to sound frequency and auditory closure skill, revealing important relationship between vocal production and commitment of central auditory function. These alterations reveal the need for a more comprehensive diagnostic front to dysphonia, considering the auditory processing. Dysphonic women presented lower performance than non-dysphonic women on the first try and the total attempts reproduction Tonal Vocal Test. Thus, the speech pathologist should consider in voice therapy the importance of presentation/repeat auditory cues to facilitate the implementation of some vocal exercises, and encourage good performance and progress in the dysphonic women therapy. The better the performance in auditory processing tests, better the performance of vocal tonal reproduction of dysphonic and not dysphonic. The vocal tonal reproduction test can aid speech and vocal trainers to check possible difficulties in auditory perception in dysphonic women. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/13055-8 - ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VOCAL EXTENSION AND AUDITORY PROCESSING
• Grantee: Janine Santos Ramos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master