Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2019; 09(01): 06-08
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1689066
Original Article

Effect of Chin-Down Position on Vocal Mean Pitch and Intensity

Bennet Elsa Joseph
1   Nitte Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Mable Mathew
1   Nitte Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Keerthana Kulath Purath Raj
1   Nitte Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background Voice, a unique characteristic of each individual, is an outcome of the configuration and function of various components of the vocal tract. Pitch and loudness, being integral parts of voice, vary with changes in factors such as muscle tension, subglottal pressure, and position. Chin down is often the recommended voice therapy for lowering pitch. But there is no literature available as to by how much does it actually change the mean pitch and intensity. The present study was undertaken to understand the effect on the vocal mean pitch and intensity when head position is changed to chin-down position.

Methods Thirty women aged 18 to 25 years were included in this preliminary study. Individuals having any history of voice disorder were excluded. Voice samples were collected using clinical microphone and acoustically analyzed using the Praat software. The participants were instructed to phonate and count numbers in neutral position and chin down position.

Results It was observed that there was no change in the acoustic or perceptual measure of pitch with change in the head position. However, there was a significant reduction in the intensity for phonation task in the chin-down position.

Conclusion Speech language pathologists need to provide chin down as a facilitative technique for lowering larynx along with other voice therapies which are proved to effectively lower pitch.

Keywords

chin down - mean pitch - intensity - lowering of pitch - head positioning techniques


Publication History

Article published online:
12 February 2020

© .

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Bracket IP. Handbook of Speech Pathology and Audiology. In: Travis LE. ed. UK: Prentice Hall; 1971: 441-463
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Laitman JT, Reidenberg JS. The evolution of the human larynx: nature’s great experiment. In: Fried MP, Ferlito A. eds. The Larynx. 3rd ed. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing; 2009: 19-38
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Van Den Berg J. Myoelastic-aerodynamic theory of voice production J Speech Hear Res. 1958; 1 (03) 227-244
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Hixon TJ, Abbs JH. Normal Speech Production Introduction to Communication Disorders. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1980
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Van Lierde KM, De Ley S, Clement G, De Bodt M, Van Cauwenberge P. Outcome of laryngeal manual therapy in four Dutch adults with persistent moderate-to-severe vocal hyperfunction: a pilot study. J Voice 2004; 18 (04) 467-474
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Aronson AE. Clinical Voice Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach. 3rd ed.. Thieme Inc; New York: 1990
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Prater RJ, Swift RW. Manual of Voice Therapy. Boston, Toronto: Little, Brown Book Group Limited; 2000
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Faaborg-Andersen K, Sonninen A. The function of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles at different pitch: an electromyo-graphic and roentgenologic investigation. Acta Otolaryngol 1960; 51: 89-93
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar