Title :
`Voice quality´ in larynx cancer patients: computerised spectral analysis of impedance LX-waveforms compared to expert assessment
Author :
Christopher, Moore ; Nicholas, Slevin ; Susan, Winstanley
Author_Institution :
North Western Med. Phys., Christie Hosp., Manchester, UK
Abstract :
A technique for objective assessment of larynx cancer patient voice quality using a single parameter is introduced. It is based upon the evaluation of vocal fold functionality using fundamental-harmonic normalisation (FHN) of spectra derived from impedance LX-waveforms for the vowels /ae/ and /i/. Patient FHN-spectra are correlated against pooled FHN-spectral `normal´ reference standards constructed using data from healthy volunteers. Spectral correlations closely reflect refined expert judgement. There is close correlation between voice quality and the stage of larynx disease
Keywords :
bioelectric phenomena; cancer; electric impedance measurement; medical diagnostic computing; medical signal processing; spectral analysis; speech; speech processing; computerised spectral analysis; expert assessment; healthy volunteers; impedance LX-waveform; larynx cancer patient voice quality; larynx disease; objective assessment; patient fundamental-harmonic normalisation spectra; pooled fundamental-harmonic normalisation spectral normal reference standards; refined expert judgement; spectral correlations; vocal fold functionality; vowels; Cancer; Frequency; Hospitals; Impedance; Larynx; Natural languages; Physics; Quality assessment; Spectral analysis; Speech;
Conference_Titel :
[Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 1999. 21st Annual Conference and the 1999 Annual Fall Meetring of the Biomedical Engineering Society] BMES/EMBS Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the First Joint
Conference_Location :
Atlanta, GA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5674-8
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1999.804129
