New VA software program quantitatively analyzes voice quality

The voice analyzer (VA) software program we developed for quantitatively analyzing voice quality uses zero-cross-picking to find individual basic pitch periods. Two such periods extracted from a voice waveform were analyzed to calculate the acoustic energy of harmonics separately from that of noise components. The program determines the ratio of harmonics to noise (Ra), FO, jitter, shimmer, APQ, and PPQ. Sustained vowel/a/from 28 subjects without evident vocal problems such as hoarseness and 49 subjects with hoarseness were examined. Average female and male Ra among the nonhoarse were 31. 9 dB and 34. 4 dB, jitter 0. 254% and 0. 246%, and shimmer 0.168% and 0.116%. Among those with hoarseness, all parameter scored worse than in the nonhoarse in proportion to auditory impression.