Influence of the Nasometric Instrument Structure on Nasalance Score

Abstract

Owing to the development of medical technology, devices to assess resonance (hypernasality and hyponasality) which result from conditions such as cleft palate and brain injury are being studied. In general, nasometric instruments are used to support clinical judgments of these disorders. For conventional separation-type nasometric instruments, there is an acoustic feedback effect between oral and nasal sounds. Recently, a mask-type nasometric instrument was developed for acoustic feedback insensitivity, but it has not yet been popularized. In this study, we analyzed the acoustic characteristics of the mask-type structure according to existing nasometric instruments. We evaluated the acoustic collection characteristics of the structure through the lumped-element model with an electromechanical-equivalent circuit. The analysis confirmed that the optimum area of the acoustic hole was obtained and a closed-type mask structure could be designed. In addition, we obtained voice data from a healthy control group and examined significant differences in the structure of the separation-type and mask-type nasometric instruments. Consequently, we confirmed a significant difference in nasalance according to the acoustic collection structure of the nasometric instruments.

Normative Values of Nasal Resonance: Preliminary Data for Polish Working-Age Adults

“…Our own earlier pilot study conducted on a smaller group of people, together with the current research, has shown that it is reasonable to use language tests on modern digital nasometers even though they were developed for analogue devices [7]. However, as Woo and colleagues have shown, differences in measurement equipment can cause discrepancies of up to several percent, despite the same language tests being used [11]. This suggests that measurement standards should be checked and adjusted whenever there are significant changes in recording methods [12].…”

Design and Evaluation of Korean Electropalatography (K-EPG)

“…Recent developments in medical technology have increased the interest in rehabilitation devices. Among them, diagnostic technologies and devices related to speech therapy are continuously being studied [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Speech sound disorder is the most common childhood communication disorder, and articulation is very closely related to speech sound disorder [ 8 ].…”

“…If the issue is severe, the unclear pronunciation causes problems such as communication disorders, difficulties, and decreased quality of life. The diagnosis and treatment of speech sound disorders, including traditional tactile perception tests and methods based on the subjective judgment of speech-based speech therapists, have many limitations [ 5 ]. In articulation movement, which is a key factor in speech sound disorder, the position and tension of the tongue (i.e., lax, tense and aspirated consonants) are very important factors [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”