Phonation*

Question 1

Name the 3 conditions needed for phonation. And what will happen if the conditions are met?

Answer 1

1. Flow of air
2. Adduction of vocal folds sufficient to build up required subglottal pressure
3. Tension to produce stiffness

The vocal folds will then vibration (according to the Aerodynamic-Myoelastic theory.

Question 2

Explain the Aerodynamic-Myoelastic theory

Answer 2

• At the onset of phonation VF’s are adducted.
• As they close the flow of air produced by expiration is interrupted as it can longer escape through the glottis.
• Caused and increased in pressure, beneath the closed glottis.
• As expiration continues against a closed glottis, subglottal pressure continues to rise, until the VF’s are forced open a little bit.
• This causes a small amount of air to be released through the narrow slit. Meaning subglottal pressure falls.
• Muscular forces adducting the VF’s now exceed the force produced by the subglottal pressure, and the VF’s begin to close.

Aided by Bernoulli Effect.

Question 3

What are the variants in voicing?

Answer 3

• Frequency = determines pitch,
• Intensity = determine loudness,
• Quality = determines individual characteristics of the voice.

Question 4

What is frequency?

Answer 4

Perceived pitch is the perceptual correlate of frequency (number of vibrations/second).

The pitch raises as the frequency of vibrations increases.

Longer length of vocal folds = lower pitch.

Pitch is lower in males < females < children.

Question 5

What are the 3 alterations in pitch determined by? (physical parameters)

Answer 5

• Length = INCREASE = PITCH DECREASE
  Decrease = pitch increase
• Thickness = INCREASE = PITCH INCREASE
  Decrease = pitch decrease
• Tension = INCREASE = PITCH DECREASE
  Decrease = pitch increase

Question 6

What are the Thyroarytenoids?

Answer 6

They are muscle-producing changes in length and thickness. Acts to shorten the VF’s. Involved in fine-tuning.

Question 7

What is Vocalis?

Answer 7

Vocalis is another muscle involved in changing the length and thickness. Acts to shorten and thicken the VF’s.

Question 8

What could be classed as vocal misuse?

Answer 8

• Raising voice if working in a loud environment.
  This causes a strong adduction causing trauma to vocal folds.

Question 9

What are the organic diseases?

Answer 9

Fluid retention and oedema in whole body.
Fluid build up in vocal folds meaning pitch lowers.