The Impact of Communication Modality on Voice Production

• Published in: Journal of speech, language, and hearing research Vol. 63; no. 9; pp. 2913 - 2920
• Main Authors: Tracy, Lauren F, Segina, Roxanne K, Cadiz, Manuel Diaz, Stepp, Cara E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Acoustics; Adults; Audiovisual Communications; Change; Difficulty Level; Speech Communication; Telecommunications
• ISSN: 1092-4388
• DOI: 10.1044/2020_JSLHR-20-00161

Purpose: Communicating remotely using audio and audiovisual technology is ubiquitous in modern work and social environments. Remote communication is increasing in medicine and in voice therapy delivery, and this evolution may have an impact on speakers' voices. This study sought to determine whether these communication modalities impact the voice production of typical speakers. Method: The speech acoustics of 12 participants with healthy voices were recorded as they held standardized conversations with a single investigator using three communication modalities: in-person, remote-audio, and remote-audiovisual. Participants rated their vocal effort on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results: Compared to in-person communication, self-ratings of vocal effort were statistically significantly increased for remote-audiovisual communication; vocal effort during remote-audio and in-person communication were not significantly different. In comparison to in-person communication, vocal intensity and smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) were statistically significantly higher during remote-audio and remote-audiovisual communication. Effect sizes for CPPS changes were larger than for sound pressure level (SPL), and changes in CPPS and SPL between in-person and remote-audiovisual communication were not significantly correlated. Conclusions: Vocal effort and SPL were increased when using remote-audio and remote-audiovisual communication in comparison to in-person communication. Voice quality was also impacted by technology use, with changes in CPPS that were consistent with, but not fully explained by, increases in SPL. This may impact the telepractice delivery of voice therapy, and further investigation is warranted.