The effect of hearing loss on acoustic parameters of voice in children

Introduction: By means of normal hearing system and appropriate auditory feedback, we can control acoustic parameters of voice such as phonation, quality of voice, pitch and intensity. Materials and Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study was investigation and comparison of some acoustic parameters of voice including: mean of intensity range, frequency range, shimmer, and harmonic to noise ratio between 2 groups of children (17 hearing impaired and 17 normal children). These groups were matched with respect to age and sex. The mean of each parameters were calculated using collection of speech studio software and electrolaryngograph apparatus and were compared between two groups of children. Results: The mean of intensity range between two groups was not statistically different (P=0.462). The mean of frequency range between two groups was not statistically different either (P=0.277). The mean of Shimmer in children with hearing loss was higher than normal children (P=0.010). The mean of Harmonic to noise ratio (HNR) in children with hearing loss was lower than normal children (P=0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that most susceptible acoustic parameters of voice for improving by hearing aids and speech therapy services are frequency and intensity range. The higher mean of shimmer and lower mean of harmonic to noise ratio (HNR) in hearing impaired children in comparison with normal group is caused by excessive pressure that these children are bearing on the larynx and related structures

Effects of smoking cigarette on some acoustic voice parameters and elements of speech pattern of male subjects

Introduction: The harmful effects of smoking cigarette on body organs are well documented. There are more than 40 acoustic voice parameters and the effects of smoking cigarette on them are still studied. The aim of this study was to examine and compare some acoustic voice parameters between smoker and non smoker men. Material and Methods: In this cross–sectional study, some acoustic voice parameters including; fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, irregularity, contact quotient and elements of speech pattern were compared between 2 groups of men consisting of 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers. Each parameter was calculated using speech studio software and an electrolaryngograph. Results: The men’s voices differed on several parameters. The mean fundamental frequency in smokers was significantly lower (P<0.001) than this one in non-smokers. The mean jitter, shimmer and irregularity of men who smoke were significantly higher (P<0.001) than those mean in the men who did not. The mean silence among smokers was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that mean among nonsmokers. In contrast, the mean of voicing in the men who smoke was significantly lower (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to contact quotient, nasality, and friction. Conclusion: Fundamental frequency is the most vulnerable acoustic parameter of voice in smokers. The higher means for jitter shimmer and irregularity of voice in men who smoke is most likely related to epithelial changes in the vocal folds, inflammation caused by cigarette smoking, and the neurologic effects of nicotine and other chemical materials of cigarettes. It seems that the increased time of silence during connected speech of smokers is related to the defective quality of the closed phase of vocal cords movement

Comparison of the Short-Term Effect of Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized clinical trial

Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases which involved all joints. It is very important to choose a treatment method with high efficiency to reduce the pain and disability of patients and also to improve their quality of life. The current study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of intra-articular injection of PRP and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the knee of people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods In this randomized clinical trial study, 90 patients with KOA were randomly divided into two groups of intra-articular HA and PRP. The patients of the two groups were followed up for five months and different outcomes were recorded. The McMaster index (WOMAC) evaluated all patients at rest and during movements. Measurements were taken at the beginning and after the third month of follow-up. Results Three month after the last injection (5th month) and after adjusting of baseline value using analysis of covariance, the mean of knee pain, stiffness, physical function and finally total score in the PRP group, was significantly lower than the HA group. Regarding the Osteoarthritis grade, the mean of knee pain, Stiffness, Physical function and finally total score in the PRP group was significantly lower than the HA group in all Osteoarthritis grades.&nbsp; Also, there were no complications in the studied groups. Conclusion The results of the current study showed that pain and stiffness reduction as well as physical function of the knee joint in the PRP group was better than in the HA group

Effects of healthy lingual local sense on formant frequencies of Persian vowels

Introduction: In order to evaluate the effects of healthy lingual local sense on the phonetic quality of Persian vowels, changes in their main acoustic features were analyzed following local anesthesia the surface and sides of the tongue to partly block the normal neural feedback mechanisms in speech. Materials and Methods: Six Persian vowels (/a/, /o/, /u/, /e/, /i/, /æ/) were prolonged 3 times using habitual loudness with and without lingual local anesthesia (Lidocaine Hydrochloride Oral Topical Solution, USP (Viscous) 2) by 5 male speakers. The formant frequencies of vowels (F1and F2) were analyzed and compared using the Speech Studio Package (Laryngograph Ltd). Results: The difference between mean values of F1 and F2 before and after lingual local anesthesia were not statistically different for the /a/, /æ/ and /u/ vowels (p0. 05). The mean value of F2 for this vowel was decreased to 262 Hz. The difference between the mean values of F1 and F2 before and after local anesthesia were also significantly different for the /e/ and /i/ vowels (p>0. 05). Conclusion: According to our results, lingual local sense has effects on the production of some Persian vowels. Perhaps the healthy local sense of the tongue and normal articulatory models has an important role in the production of vowels

Determining Optimal Lot Size, Reorder Point, and Quality Features for a Food Item in a Cold Warehouse: Data-Driven Optimization Approach

We propose a nonlinear optimization model for determining the optimum lot size and reorder point for a food item distributed through a cold warehouse as well as the optimum quality features, namely temperature, humidity, packaging type, and level of environmental conditions. The item's quality is estimated based on the features mentioned earlier, and then it is used as a constraint in the optimization process. An assumption was made that the inventory is managed under a continuous review policy and the warehouse has limited space. The model seeks to minimize the annual total cost of managing the warehouse. The model will be a nonlinear mixed programming one, which is solved by Pyomo as a leading library in Python language programming. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the use of the model and, through sensitivity analysis, develop insights into the operation of cold warehouses. This sensitive analysis opens the doors to managerial insight from which managers and policymakers can highly benefit.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Dictation errors among students of primary schools in Iranian populations

Introduction: Dictation as an important academic ability involves divers cortical processes so that any problem in one of them may lead to a dictation error. Identifying current dictation errors helps specialists to understand its causes more comprehensively and to use the most effective interventional approaches. The aim of this study was to compare the most common dictation errors between primary students of Semnan and Babol cities in Iran. Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, dictation samples of 2215 Semnan’s primary students and 1664 Babol’s primary students were collected. All of participants had normal I.Q, hearing skills and cranial nerves functions. Dictation materials were chosen from their books and dictated by their teachers. All of errors were categorized according to error kinds. Results: There were significant differences between Semnan’s and Babol’s primary students according to the frequency of dictation errors and their grades. Some of errors such as visual memory, educational and dysgraphia errors were significantly common between groups and all grades. Semnan’s primary students had more dictation errors in first and second grades than Babol’s primary students, although this condition reversed in other grades. Conclusion: Dialect may influence dictation and its errors so there should be various therapeutic and educational focuses for different dialects. The highest levels of visual memory, educational and accuracy errors mean that it is necessary to pay more attention on their prerequisites developmental skills to prevent and to treat them

Internal evaluation of speech therapy department of Semnan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Using students' view for teacher evaluation is a common method. This study was designed to investigate the view of faculties and medical students about faculty teaching experiences. Materials and Methods: 100 medical students and 35 faculties from Jahrom University of Medical Sciences were participated in this study. Two separate questionnaires were designed for this purpose and after determining validity and reliability completed by teachers and students. Results: 70.9 percent of faculties reported that they are satisfied with evaluation by students. 48.6 percent of them reported that feedback from this evaluation improved their teaching. 48.8 percent of them thought that some students behave spitefully. 60 percent reported self assessments as a useful method for evaluation of their own teaching. The majority of medical students (76.6%) reported that teachers' communication skills are one of the important factors in teacher evaluation. 67.4 percent of them reported that they completed the teachers' evaluation forms carefully and 60.9 percent of them asserted that teachers, who take difficult examinations, have lower grades in evaluation forms. Conclusion: In general, most teachers are agreed with teacher evaluation. Since students' opinion about their teachers is influenced by some factors which have no close relationship with the evaluation subject and is merely related to other factors, using other evaluation methods such as self evaluation and peer evaluation seems to be necessary. In addition, we should establish a single national and standard method for teacher evaluation all over the country