Czarina Kristine D. Nobleza, Joanna I. Remaneses (March 2009)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The frequency of the voice changes through life, especially during puberty. Many factors affect voice change, but the frequency changes are attributed to the length changes of the vocal chords as a person ages.
Research studies that may provide new clinical measurements to diagnose vocal cord problems are being conducted. For instance, a software is being developed that can describe important aspects of the health of the larynx by analyzing the sounds it produces. By measuring motion instabilities in the vocal cords, the software may allow scientists and treatment clinics to relate measurements to the study of voice misuse and help diagnose disorders such as muscle paralysis and tissue loss.
The age, mass, height, mass, and BMI of PSHSWV students were correlated with their fundamental frequency and first formant.
Voices of PSHSWV students were recorded. Fundamental frequencies and first formants were obtained from the recordings using the Praat software. Their height and mass were measured on the days of recordings. BMI was measured from the height and mass. Ages were computed in terms of days as of dates of recordings.
Results of the study showed that height (r=-0.58 for fundamental frequency and r = -0.51 for first formant) is the most correlated parameter to the vocal frequencies, followed by mass (r=-0.38 for fundamental frequency and re-0.26 for first formant).
Two-tailed test of significance showed that height is significant at the 0.01 level and mass is significant at the 0.05 level. This means that as height and mass decrease, the vocal frequencies decrease.