Evaluation of Voice Parameters in People with Head and Neck Cancers: An Investigational Study

Background: Head and neck cancer severely affects the voice and compromises a patient’s vocal independence. In the present study we have investigated the difference in three vital components of the voice - pitch, jitter, and shimmer in head and neck cancer patients and compared the findings with age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMiddle East journal of cancer Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 193 - 197
Main Authors Thomas Zacharia, Suresh Rao, Sanath Kumar Hegde, Preema D’souza, Judith James, Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 01.10.2016
Subjects
Head and neck cancer
Jitter
Pitch
Shimmer
Voice quality
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Summary:Background: Head and neck cancer severely affects the voice and compromises a patient’s vocal independence. In the present study we have investigated the difference in three vital components of the voice - pitch, jitter, and shimmer in head and neck cancer patients and compared the findings with age matched healthy volunteers. Methods: Voice parameters were ascertained in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients and controls using voice analysis software (PRAAT) and a Dynamic Unidirectional AUD-59 XLR microphone in a sound proof voice recording laboratory. Results: We observed considerable changes in the three voice indices of pitch, jitter and shimmer. According to gender, there were significant changes in all three indices for men (P<0.015 to 0.0001), whereas only pitch significantly changed in women (P=0.0001). Conclusion: The results have suggested that individuals with any form of head and neck cancer will have a degree of voice problems even before the initiation of cancer treatments. Voice assessment is a vital aspect to be considered before initiation of treatment.
ISSN:2008-6709
2008-6687