Transcript Oral Report 2

Vocal Mirror - Electronic Voice
Analysis for Therapeutic
Diagnosis
Group 21: Joe Owens-Ream
Advisor: Dr. Tom Cleveland
Motivation

Many professional singers and speakers
develop vocal problems through misuse of
their own talking or singing voice.
 This unnecessary wear can lead to problems
such as vocal nodules, vocal polyps, cysts,
and other voice disorders of unknown
etiology, and eventual loss of voice.
 By retraining the patient to correctly use their
voice, a speech pathologist saves their voice.
Incidence of Voice Disorders

The prevalence of voice disorders in children
up to 14 is about 6% (Leske, 1981 and
Marge, et al., 1985).
 In adulthood this decreases to as low as 1%
but increases to 6.5% for those 45 to 70.
 It is indicated in this study that these numbers
for the adult population are low and that many
voice disorders untreated or even unnoticed
for years.
Your Voice



Sound is produced by
vibrations induced when
air is passed by vocal
folds.
Wear and misuse can
lead to nodes and
cysts.
Such wear often
happens without the
patient’s knowledge.
Problems of Current System

Time spent in
voice clinic
 Feedback through
speech pathologist
 No take-home
version
 Lack of visual and
aural
representation of
problems
Working Solution

The goal of the device is
to, from a live signal or
recording, extrapolate data
about the frequency and
amplitude usage of the
speaker's/singer's
voice. This data will be
analyzed by the system
and output information on
the pattern of voice usage,
and provide real-time
suggestions for use. This
data can then be used to
diagnose speaking/singing
problems or bad
tendencies.
Flow Chart of Design
Voice Audio Input
Microphone
A/D board (sound card)
Virtual Instrument (VI)
Visualization
Frequency Graph
Threshold limits
Signal of threshold excession
Speaker
Audio output of a beep
or some other signal
Data log
Goals

Short term:



Create LabView VI to input, display, and analyze
audio signal, and connect through LabView Player to
A/D board and mike on laptop.
Design various analysis sequences to output statistics
or live audio information.
Long term:


Design portable device to be carried/worn by patient.
Design device hardware for use in patholigists’ clinic
Work Completed

Researched possible overlap with current
devices
 Evaluated LabView’s signal analysis options
and built in VIs
 Further narrowing of design definition
 Researched the physics of sound waves and
the physiology of the voice.
Equipment and Costs
 Microphone
donated from Dr. Cleveland
 A/D Board already owned in laptop
 Use of LabView software is free in BME
computer lab and LabView player is free
to download
 Projected final costs: minimal to none
Further Work
 Continue
work in LabView on signal
analysis suite
 Procure A/D board from Dr. King
 Create working prototype
 Test prototype with Dr. Cleveland
 Create board presentation
Contact Information

http://vubme.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/group21_01

Joe Owens-Ream
[email protected]

Dr. Tom Cleveland
[email protected]