Phonetogram and averages of sound pressure levels and fundamental frequencies of speech: Comparison between female singers and nonsingers

Summary The interdependence of changes in mean fundamental frequency and in mean loudness of phonation was studied in 10 female, professional singers, and 10 untrained women. All subjects read continuous texts at three different vocal loudness levels and also when exposed to white noise and filtered noise. The singers increased their mean fundamental frequencies and sound pressure levels significantly more from the normal to the loud conditions than the nonsingers. In both noise conditions, however, a significant increase was observed from the normal condition for the frequency parameter only, not for the loudness. The singers also produced a significantly higher upper phonetogram contour than the nonsingers. The total dynamic range was better reflected by the phonetogram if single pitches were given to the subjects instead of triads.