title: Quasi-output-cost-ratio, perceived voice quality, and subjective evaluation in female kindergarten teachers.
abstract: This study estimated vocal economy and investigated its relation to perceived voice quality and self-reported symptoms of vocal fatigue in kindergarten teachers. Quasi-output-cost ratio (QOCR) was calculated for sustained vowel [a:] at habitual loudness and at sound pressure level (SPL) of 90 dB(6cm). QOCR was calculated as (SPL/CQ(EGG)) × T/T(0), where CQ(EGG) is the contact quotient measured from the electroglottogram, T is the period length, and T(0) is arbitrarily set mean period length (0.005 s in females). QOCR correlated negatively with perceived firmness at standard SPL and with the evaluation of too high pitch for the subject at both SPLs. QOCR did not predict self-reported vocal fatigue. Further studies with connected speech and objectively stated loading symptoms are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Speech and Voice Research Laboratory, School of Education, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. elina.kankare@uta.fi
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kankare
authors.forename: Anne-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005931:Glottis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010699:Phonation; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014741:Video Recording; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality