Pathology-Related Influences on the VEM: Three Years’ Experience since Implementation of a New Parameter in Phoniatric Voice Diagnostics

Table 1

Instruction of individuals performing objective acoustic measurements.

Measure	Phonatory tasks
Jitter	Standing position. Produce a sustained vowel (/na/or/a/) for 3-5 seconds. Use a comfortable pitch and loudness.; The most stable recording out of 3 trials was chosen for DSI calculation.
MPT	Standing position. Produce a sustained vowel (/a/or/na/) for as long as possible after maximum inhalation. Use a comfortable pitch and loudness.; The longest phonation time out of 3 trials was chosen for DSI calculation.
VRP	Standing position. Initial assessment of speaking VRP, followed by singing VRP.; (1) Speaking voice. Count from 21 to 25 at different intensity levels; 1a: Lowest volume possible (unstressed phonation at indifferent pitch); 1b: Normal conversation volume (fist level of increase); 1c: Speaker’s voice (lecture hall volume, second level of increase); 1d: Loudest volume possible (calling voice); (2) Singing voice. Produce a sustained vowel (/na/or/a/) for at least 2 seconds at different intensity levels; 2a: As softly as possible; 2b: As loud as possible; For both settings, begin at a comfortable middle pitch. Stepwise reduce the pitch to the lowest possible note. Return to comfortable pitch and get stepwise higher in pitch as far as possible.; The perimeter and area between the curves of soft and loud singing VRP served for VEM calculation.