Spectrographic analysis of vowels in laryngectomy patients

Spektrografska analiza govora je pouzdana metoda koja omogućava izdvajanje kvantitativnih parametara glasa. Primenjena je u ovom radu za poređenje različitih oblika komunikacije kod laringektomiranih bolesnika. Cilj istraživanja je da se utvrdi povezanost između parametara spektralne analize i razumljivosti govora kod laringektomiranih bolesnika, kao i uticaj ovih parametara na stepen razumljivosti govora. Uzorkom je obuhvaćeno 125 laringektomiranih pacijenata oba pola, starosti od 48 do 85 godina. Spektrografska analiza sprovedena je primenom kompjuterizovane Laboratorije za ispitivanje glasa i govora “Kay Elemetrics“ korporacije, model 4300. U radu je korišćen „Balansirani tekstˮ za analizu govora i glasa. U statističkoj obradi podataka korišćena je deskriptivna statistika. Razlike su testirane jednofaktorskom analizom varijanse (ANOVA) i t testom za velike nezavisne uzorke, kao i t testom za jedan uzorak. Povezanost je ispitana Pirsonovim koeficijentom korelacije. Univarijantna linearna regresiona analiza korišćena je za utvrđivanje uticaja prediktora na zavisnu varijablu. Utvrđena je samo jedna statistički značajna povezanost parametra IF2 (r = -0,41, p = 0,009) sa ocenom na Testu razumljivosti govora kod ezofagealnih pacijenata i jedna statistički značajna povezanost parametra IF2 (r = 0,35, p = 0,025) sa ocenom na Testu razumljivosti govora kod pacijenata koji koriste elektrolarinks. Rezultati regresione analize su pokazali da je varijabla IF2 statistički značajni prediktor rezultata na Testu razumljivosti kod ezofagealnih pacijenata, objašnjavajuči 14% varijanse (β = -0,41, p = 0,009). U grupi pacijenata koji koriste elektrolarinks varijabla IF2 je statistički značajna u predikciji rezultata na Testu razumljivosti, objašnjavajuči 10% varijanse (β = 0,35, p = 0,025Spectrographic analysis of speech is a reliable method which enables deriving quantitative parameters of voice. In this study, it was used for comparing different forms of communication in laryngectomy patients. The aim of the research was to determine the connection between parameters of spectral analysis and speech understanding in laryngectomy patients, as well as the impact of these parameters on the degree of speech understanding. The study sample included 125 laryngectomy patients of both genders, 48 to 85 years of age. Spectrographic analysis was carried out by implementing the computerized Laboratory for examining voice and speech of “Kay Elemetrics Corporation“, model 4300. The “Balanced text“ for the analysis of speech and voice was used in this study. In statistical data processing, the descriptive statistics was used. The differences were tested by the single factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and by the independent sample t test, and also by a single sample t test. The connection was examined by Pearson correlation coefficient. Univariate linear regression analysis was used for determining the influence of the predictor on the dependent variable. Only one significant connection of the parameter IF2 (r = -0.41, p = 0.009) with speech understanding test assessment was determined in esophageal patients, and one statistically significant connection of the parameter IF2 (r = 0.35, p = 0.025) with the speech understanding test assessment in patients who use electrolarynx. The results of the regression analysis showed that the variable IF2 was a statistically significant predictor of the Understanding test results in esophageal patients, explaining 14% of the variance (Beta = -0.41, p = 0.009). In a group of patients who used electrolarynx, the variable IF2 was statistically significant in the prediction of the Understanding test, explaining 10% of the variance (β = 0.35, p = 0.025)