UTM starts project about Speech Acoustic Analysis

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) approved six R&D projects from the Telecommunications and Multimedia Unit (UTM). Among these projects, we highlight "Acoustic Analysis and Speech Aerodynamics in patients suffering from Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis (UVCP)", led by researcher Aníbal Ferreira.

The project focuses its research activities on the problem of phonation in patients suffering from UVCP. This problem is characterized by a highly irregular phonation, which is caused by a disorder on the dynamic patterns by the time the vibratory cycle opens or closes.

One of the project's aims is to try to understand directly what causes a weak vocalization in patients with UVCP. Through aerodynamic, acoustic and EGG (electroglotography) data, it will be possible to record the vocalization strategies that these patients use. In order to establish comparisons, weak vocalization in regular speakers will also be measured.

This way, the project intends to develop and evaluate new intervention strategies for patients suffering from UVCP, thus complementing the most common strategies such as speech therapy and, in some cases, surgery. The project also intends to create a database consisting of pathological and non-pathological voices in order to relate biomedical signal properties and the medical diagnosis concerning pathological voices. Also, it will be easier to understand voice properties, such as the aspiration and fricatization phenomena. Thus, it will be possible to relate speech and perception.

The project's core team is set up by the following members: Aníbal Ferreira from the Department of Electronic Engineering and Computers from FEUP and INESC Porto; Luís Jesus, from the Escola Superior de Saúde from the University of Aveiro and from the Instituto de Engenharia Electrónica e Telemática (Institute for Electronic and Telemathic Engineering) in Aveiro; Margarida Santos and Helena Vilarinho from the Hospital de S. João in Porto - EPE; Anna Barney from the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research University of Southampton Highfield in the UK; and André Araújo from the Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde in Porto.

The University of Aveiro (Prime Contractor), INESC Porto and IEETA/UA are the institutions participating on this project. It began on 4 September 2007 and it will last 3 years with an approved budget of 97 thousand euros.