Singing voice quality measured by spectral and voice range profiles in vocally healthy trained and untrained voice adults and children

Objectives: to compare and to assess differences of voice quality measured by voice range and spectral range profiles in vocally healthy trained and untrained age and gender differentiated subject groups. Material and methods: Nine quantitative parameters of singing voice derived from voice range profile (VRP) and spectral range profile (SRP) were taken and analyzed from 24 vocally healthy trained voice subjects: 12 adults (aged 18-54 years) and 12 children before maturation (aged 7-13 years) and 55 healthy untrained voice subjects: 44 adults (aged 18-66 years) and 11 children (aged 5-12 years). Results: When compared to non-singers, both genders of trained adult and child singers exhibited significantly increased mean pitch range and highest frequency of VRP. Adult singers also showed significantly increased means of total VRP area and area in high frequencies, regardless of gender. Means of coefficient of sound derived from SRP and representing the percent ratio of the singer’s format level and maximum voice sound pressure level differ significantly only for adults. This parameter for adults and pitch range for children were the most sensitive in discrimination between trained and untrained voices. Conclusions: Vocally healthy trained voice adults and children demonstrate better voice quality measured by VRP and SRP in comparison to healthy untrained subjects. Quantitative voice assessment with voice range and spectral range profiles may be helpful for evaluation of voice training effects in everyday practice for adults and children.