Akustinen äänenlaatuindeksi (AVQI) äänen arvioinnissa: Alustava monitapaustutkimus äänitystason, -tilan ja äänentuottotavan vaikutuksista

The AVQI is used for the evaluation of dysphonia. This preliminary study investigated howmuch the index is affected by a low input gain level or background noise during recording,as well as the speaker’s gender and way of speaking when the recommended recording deviceare used. Samples were obtained from two vocally healthy speakers and two voice patients (male andfemale in both cases). The healthy participants were recorded in an acoustically treated studiowith a head-set microphone while reading a passage and sustaining [a:] in a habitual way,softly, loudly, and in a higher than the habitual pitch. The recordings and the voice patients’samples were re-recorded in a studio and in an ordinary office using an optimal and low gainlevel. The AVQI was calculated. The recording level, room noise, and speaker’s gender had a minor effect on the AVQI. Thedysphonic voices obtained the highest (= worst) AVQI values. The healthy participants’ softsamples resulted in AVQI values typical of dysphonia. When the AVQI is utilized for voiceevaluation, it is important to ensure that the voice samples are produced at a conversationalloudness.