Long-time spectral and intensity characteristics of esophageal speech.

Long-time spectral characteristics and distributional properties of speech intensity produced by esophageal speakers were measured and compared with those of normal speakers. Substantial differences were observed in the distributional properties of speech intensity produced by normal and esophageal talkers. On the average, esophageal speech was about 10 dB less intense than normal speech. In addition, the average long-time spectrum for esophageal speech was characterized by a flattened spectral envelope. Other spectral differences between esophageal and normal speech were found and interpreted in terms of the known variations in voice and speech production of these two divergent forms of oral communication.