title: Effect of Voice Onset Type on Vocal Attack Time.
abstract: Vocal attack time (VAT) is the time lag between the growth of sound pressure (SP) and electroglottographic (EGG) signals at vocal initiation. The characteristics of voice initiation are associated with issues of vocal hygiene, efficiency, and quality. Vocal onsets have commonly been qualitatively characterized into three types: hard, simultaneous, and breathy. This study examines the effect of voice onset type on VAT values in normal speakers. SP and EGG recordings were obtained for 55 female and 57 male subjects while producing multiple tokens of three tasks (sustained /ɑ/ and "always" as unaspirated onsets, and "hallways" as an aspirated onset). Results revealed a significant effect of onset type on VAT, with the mean VAT for the "hallways" (aspirated) task greater than the mean VAT for the sustained /ɑ/ and "always" (unaspirated) tasks. There was no significant VAT difference between the sustained /ɑ/ and "always" tasks. Findings confirm the sensitivity of the VAT measure to vocal onset type and suggest its potential application as an objective and quantitative clinical measure of the type of vocal onset.
authors: Department of Speech-Language Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York. Electronic address: Watson@nymc.edu.
authors: Ben C
authors: BC
authors: Watson
authors: Department of Speech-Language Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Baken
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.
authors: Rick M
authors: RM
authors: Roark
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology*; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Phonation; Vocal attack time; Vocal fold physiology; Voice onset