ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS OF SPEECH BEFORE AND AFTER ADENOTONSILLECTOMY

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate and compare acoustic measures of the first, second and third formants of the brazilian vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/ at three different moments: before adenotonsillectomy, one month and three months following the same surgery. Methods: Retrospective study in which were selected 26 children between the ages of five and ten years old and with medical indication of adenotonsillectomy. The recordings were performed by a speech therapist at three different moments: prior surgery, one month and three months following surgery. The voices were submitted to acoustic analysis in the Praat Program, version 5.0.47. The acoustic measures were: first, second and third formants of the sustained brazilian vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/. Results: The second formant frequency of vowel /a/ increased and it decreased for vowel /u/. There was a significant change between the values of the vowel /a/ prior and one month following surgery and a tendency of change between the values prior and three months after surgery. The vowel /u/, showed a tendency that the values obtained prior surgery were different from the others. Conclusions: Statistically, there was a significant increase of vowel /a/ and decrease of vowel /u/ for the second formant. No other significant statistical changes were found.