Multidimensional Electroglottographic Characterization of Immediate Responses to Straw Phonation: A Pilot Methodological Study in Singers
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises are widely used in voice training and therapy, but immediate electroglottographic effects remain incompletely characterized. This pilot methodological study evaluated six female community singers using a no-straw baseline followed by Household metal, Metal VoiceStrawTM, plastic, and paper straw-phonation conditions. Thirty 1-s EGG recordings were analyzed using a standardized multidimensional pipeline including contact quotient (CQ), open quotient (OQ), waveform skewness, rise/fall timing, temporal skewness (s_t), normalized derivative asymmetry index (NDAI), average-cycle morphology, and spectral descriptors; participant-reported responses were summarized descriptively. Across all four post-exercise conditions, the EGG waveform showed a clear descriptive shift toward a steeper/faster closing transition relative to the slower opening transition, reflected by individual-level reductions in rise/fall ratio (4–5 of 6 participants per condition), higher s_t (three of four condition group means), and lower NDAI (all four conditions) than baseline. This closing-asymmetry pattern is consistent with a more rapid late-closing/contact transition, although EGG does not directly measure glottal airflow, maximum flow declination rate, or acoustic intensity. Post-SOVT spectra showed lower spectral centroid and more negative H2/H1, while low-order harmonic organization was largely preserved. Sensitivity analysis using 35%, 3/7 (42.9%), and 50% opening thresholds preserved the principal directional findings. These hypothesis-generating results support a multidimensional EGG framework for larger confirmatory studies.
Authors: Maya Little, Liran Oren
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Topic: Voice and Speech Disorders
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221073651