The aim of this study is to assess information on voice quality features and to ascertain the variability of these features in specified groups. Groups were created based on gender and status of vocal training, in order to study the influence of these grouping variables on selected voice quality features. Gender was chosen as a grouping variable, because previous investigations clearly demonstrated differences in voice quality characteristics between men and women. These differences have implications for the creation of a normative database, concerning its proposed function as a frame of reference. Vocal training was intentionally introduced to give direction to what might be regarded as good vocal characteristics, as compared to characteristics of subjects without vocal training. Characteristics of the vocal apparatus and voice quality features can be acquired in many ways. Four practicable methods, easily employed in a clinical environment and extensively outlining the vocal apparatus and voice function, are used in this study. Results of these investigations are described in the following chapters.
The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of visual feedback on rating voice quality severity level and the reliability of voice quality judgment by inexperienced listeners. For this purpose two training programs were created, each lasting 2 hours. In total 37 undergraduate speech–language therapy students participated in the study and were divided into a visual plus auditory-perceptual feedback group (V + AF), an auditory-perceptual feedback group (AF), and a control group with no feedback (NF). All listeners completed two rating sessions judging overall severity labeled as grade (G), roughness (R), and breathiness (B). The judged voice samples contained the concatenation of continuous speech and sustained phonation. No significant rater reliability changes were found in the pre- and posttest between the three groups in every GRB-parameter (all p > 0.05). There was a training effect seen in the significant improvement of rater reliability for roughness within the NF and AF groups (all p < 0.05), and for breathiness within the V + AF group (p < 0.01). The rating of the severity level of roughness changed significantly after the training in the AF and V + AF groups (p < 0.01), and the breathiness severity level changed significantly after the training in the V + AF group (p < 0.01). The training of V + AF and AF may only minimally influence the reliability in the judgment of voice quality but showed significant influence on rating the severity level of GRB parameters. Therefore, the use of both visual and auditory anchors while rating as well as longer training sessions may be required to draw a firm conclusion.
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OBJECTIVES: Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is a threshold based device-driven treatment for improving expiratory pressure. EMST proved to be effective in different patient groups to improve cough function. To date, EMST has not been tested in the total laryngectomy population (TL).METHODS: This prospective, randomized case-series study examined feasibility, safety, and compliance of EMST in a group of TL participants and its effects on pulmonary function, physical exertion, fatigue, and vocal functioning. Ten TL participants were included in the study to perform a 4 till 8 weeks of EMST. Objective and subjective outcome measures included manometry, spirometry, cardio pulmonary exercise testing (CPET), voice recordings, and patient reported outcome measures. Group means were reported and estimates of the effect are shown with a 95% confidence interval, using single sample t-tests.RESULTS: Nine participants completed the full study protocol. Compliance to the training program was high. All were able to perform the training, although it requires adjustments of the device and skills of the participants. Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and vocal functioning in loudness improved over time. After EMST no changes were seen in other objective and subjective outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: EMST appears to be feasible and safe after total laryngectomy. MEP improved over time but no improvement in the clinically relevant outcome measures were seen in this sample of relatively fit participants. Further investigation of the training in a larger group of participants who report specifically pulmonary complaints is recommended to investigate if the increase in MEP results in clinical benefits.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
De Top-up subsidie gebruiken wij voor het ontwikkelen van cursusmateriaal vanuit de resultaten uit project ‘The Next Level’ voor het curriculum ‘Communicatie’, ‘fysiotherapie’, een postbachelor-cursus ‘het gesprek’ die september 2017 start bij het Centrum voor Communicatie en Journalistiek (CCJ) en voor de beroepspraktijk ook buiten het crisisdomein. The Next Level heeft interessante inzichten opgeleverd over de wijze waarop taalgebruik op sociale media bijdraagt aan geruchtvorming en mobilisatie tijdens crisis. We spreken van geruchtvorming als een bepaalde voorstelling van zaken online de ronde doet, terwijl de feitelijkheid door autoriteiten (nog) niet is bevestigd of (al) is ontkend, en samengaat met of bijdraagt aan maatschappelijke onrust . Bij de vorming van mobilisatie kan het om verschillende doelen gaan zoals het winnen van morele en ideële steun voor de beweging . Een crisis kent vaak een sluimerende aanloop die uitmondt in een escalatie van de situatie. Het is de taak van het crisisteam om gedurende de aanloopperiode tot en met de escalatie van een crisis signalen tijdig en juist te kunnen duiden. Maar ook in reguliere tijden kunnen de inzichten vanuit een gespreksbenadering voor professionals die veel gesprekken voeren waardevol zijn. Inzichten uit The Next Level zijn verwerkt in een training voor crisisprofessionals: de Discoursanalytische Bril (DaB). Deze training stelt professionals in staat te kijken naar interacties op social media tijdens crises. Communicatie- en veiligheidsadviseurs hebben door de invloed van social media te maken met een veranderde interactionele context. Toch is er zowel wetenschappelijk als in de praktijk weinig aandacht voor de interactionele aspecten van crisiscommunicatie (Klarenbeek, 2012), de manier waarop mensen met elkaar in gesprek zijn over een crisis en de effecten daarvan. In The Next Level demonstreren we aan de hand van de DaB de toegevoegde waarde van een dergelijk perspectief voor professionals in het crisisdomein. De training werd goed beoordeeld. Renate den Elzen, communicatieadviseur Nationale Politie, gaf aan dat de resultaten toepasbaar zijn in de praktijk van alledag. Ook Niels Loeffen, adviseur bij communicatieadviesbureau HowAboutYou, benadrukt de toepassing van de gespreksbenadering bij crises. Tijdens en vlak na de looptijd van het project is er voortdurend aandacht geweest voor de integratie van deze inzichten in de beroepspraktijk, door middel van een reeks trainingen bij Nationale Politie, het Genootschap voor burgemeesters, Veiligheidsregio’s Utrecht, Friesland en Zuid-Holland, Foodlog, in workshops op internationale congressen, en als cursusonderdeel van post-bachelor cursus bij het CCJ. Ook in het onderwijs buiten de HU hebben we gastcolleges verzorgd bij de RUG en de WUR. De gespreksbenadering (ook buiten het crisisdomein) wordt een kernthema in het vernieuwde curriculum van de faculteit Communicatie en Journalistiek aan de Hogeschool Utrecht (Communicatie). In de opleiding is behoefte aan het stimuleren van het onderzoekend vermogen van studenten Communicatie. In vakken behorende tot de onderzoeksleerlijn kan worden ingezet op gespreksanalytisch onderzoek. Vanuit de opleiding fysiotherapie is gevraagd om een cursus gesprek tussen behandelaars en patiënten.
Within TIND, Christian Roth studies the training of interactive narrative designers with the goal of developing teaching methods and learning tools for artists and designers to enable the creation of more effective artefacts. Interactive Narrative Design (IND) is a complex and challenging interdisciplinary field introducing new affordances in technique and user-experience. This requires practice-based research for further development of the educational format, demonstrating its potential while identifying and overcoming common learners’ challenges. This project aims to develop a framework for the design and evaluation of meaningful interactive narrative experiences that effectively stimulate a variety of cognitive and emotional responses such as reflection, insight, understanding, and potential behavior change. It provides tools, methods and activities to enable aspiring or practicing narrative designers through an interdisciplinary approach, including game design, immersive theatre, behavioral and cognitive psychology, and the learning sciences. HKU education means to prepare students for success in the creative industries and IND plays an important role for current and future jobs in education, arts and entertainment. IND has the potential to create an emotional impact and spark transformative change by offering agency, defined as the ability to influence narrative progression and outcomes in a meaningful way. This enables interactors to feel the weight of their own choices and their consequences, to explore different perspectives, and to more thoroughly understand complex multi-stakeholder issues, which could have significant impact on the success of emerging artistic, and learning applications. The research project is directly embedded in the curriculum of the HKU school Games & Interaction with annual educational offerings such as the Minor Interactive Narrative Design (MIND) and HKU wide broad seminars. Course evaluation and literature research will be used to create new and adjusted training for different HKU schools and the industry. Outcomes will be shared via an interactive website and events.
