Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Feb 28;120(9):e2219394120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2219394120. Epub 2023 Feb 21.
Vocal fatigue is a measurable form of performance fatigue resulting from overuse of the voice and is characterized by negative vocal adaptation. Vocal dose refers to cumulative exposure of the vocal fold tissue to vibration. Professionals with high vocal demands, such as singers and teachers, are especially prone to vocal fatigue. Failure to adjust habits can lead to compensatory lapses in vocal technique and an increased risk of vocal fold injury. Quantifying and recording vocal dose to inform individuals about potential overuse is an important step toward mitigating vocal fatigue. Previous work establishes vocal dosimetry methods, that is, processes to quantify vocal fold vibration dose but with bulky, wired devices that are not amenable to continuous use during natural daily activities; these previously reported systems also provide limited mechanisms for real-time user feedback. This study introduces a soft, wireless, skin-conformal technology that gently mounts on the upper chest to capture vibratory responses associated with vocalization in a manner that is immune to ambient noises. Pairing with a separate, wirelessly linked device supports haptic feedback to the user based on quantitative thresholds in vocal usage. A machine learning-based approach enables precise vocal dosimetry from the recorded data, to support personalized, real-time quantitation and feedback. These systems have strong potential to guide healthy behaviors in vocal use.
嗓音疲劳是一种由过度使用声音引起的可测量的表现疲劳，其特征是负面的嗓音适应。嗓音剂量是指声带组织对振动的累积暴露。需要高音量的专业人士，如歌手和教师，特别容易出现嗓音疲劳。如果不调整习惯，可能会导致代偿性的嗓音技术失误，并增加声带损伤的风险。量化和记录嗓音剂量，以告知个人潜在的过度使用情况，是减轻嗓音疲劳的重要步骤。以前的工作建立了嗓音计量学方法，即量化声带振动剂量的过程，但这些方法需要使用笨重的有线设备，在自然的日常活动中无法连续使用；这些之前报道的系统也提供了有限的实时用户反馈机制。本研究介绍了一种柔软、无线、皮肤贴合的技术，它可以轻柔地安装在上胸部，以一种不受环境噪声影响的方式捕捉与发声相关的振动响应。与一个单独的、无线连接的设备配对，可以根据语音使用的定量阈值为用户提供触觉反馈。基于机器学习的方法可以从记录的数据中进行精确的嗓音计量学，以支持个性化的实时定量和反馈。这些系统具有很强的潜力，可以指导人们在使用嗓音时保持健康的行为。
