Vocal Fold Vibratory Dose and Perceived Exertion Responses to the Fluid Interval Test for Voice (FIT-V): A Novel Vocal Loading Task Platform.

Introduction: Vocal loading tasks are often used to study how specific variables influence downstream vocal effort or fatigue. The current study introduces a novel vocal loading task, the Fluid Interval Test for Voice (FIT-V) that combines laryngeal diadochokinesis, intervallic rest and exercise, and fluid back pressure. To assess the differences between this novel task and existing vocal loading tasks, we measured vocal fold vibratory dose and perceived phonatory exertion across three 30-minute task conditions: a control loud oral reading task (LOR), a back pressure-resisted Fluid Interval Test for Voice (FIT-V), and an unresisted Fluid Interval Test for Voice (FIT-V).

Effects of Back Pressure on the Feasibility and Tolerability of Laryngeal Diadochokinetic Exercise: A Pilot Study.

Background: The term vocal demand response refers to how speakers meet vocal demands. Vocal loading tasks with predetermined demand parameters (duration, pitch, loudness, etc) have been used in research to study the vocal demand response; these have historically consisted of loud sustained vowel and loud speech tasks. Tasks founded on laryngeal diadochokinesis (LDDK) may be viable alternatives, especially if demand parameters such as exercise-rest ratio and fluid back pressure are concurrently modulated.

Acoustic, Aerodynamic, Morphometric, and Perceptual Changes During and After Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise: An Integrative Review.

Objective: The body of literature discussing the acoustic, aerodynamic, perceptual, and morphometric changes that occur during and after semi-occluded vocal tract exercise (SOVTE) has dramatically expanded within the past 20 years. The current study integrates the literature on SOVTE from the 1990s onward, reviewing the technique's clinically relevant effects in vocally untrained adults both with and without dysphonia. The study aims to give clinicians actionable information on how SOVTEs alter vocal function in both normal and pathological states.

Tessa: A Novel MATLAB Program for Automated Tessitura Analysis.

Objective: Tessitura-the habitual pitch range of a musical piece or role-is widely accepted as a significant factor in determining whether a singer should perform a given piece or role. However, attempts to quantify tessitura have historically relied on laborious hand calculations. The current study introduces a novel MATLAB program ("Tessa") that automates tessitura analysis of digital sheet music in the MusicXML format.