Due to low intra- and interrater reliability, perceptual voice evaluation should be supported by objective, automatic methods. In this study, text-based, computer-aided prosodic analysis and measurements of connected speech were combined in order to model perceptual evaluation of the German Roughness-Breathiness-Hoarseness (RBH) scheme. 58 connected speech samples (43 women and 15 men; 48.7 ± 17.8 years) containing the German version of the text "The North Wind and the Sun" were evaluated perceptually by 19 speech and voice therapy students according to the RBH scale. For the human-machine correlation, Support Vector Regression with measurements of the vocal fold cycle irregularities (CFx) and the closed phases of vocal fold vibration (CQx) of the Laryngograph and 33 features from a prosodic analysis module were used to model the listeners' ratings. The best human-machine results for roughness were obtained from a combination of six prosodic features and CFx (r = 0.71, ρ = 0.57). These correlations were approximately the same as the interrater agreement among human raters (r = 0.65, ρ = 0.61). CQx was one of the substantial features of the hoarseness model. For hoarseness and breathiness, the human-machine agreement was substantially lower. Nevertheless, the automatic analysis method can serve as the basis for a meaningful objective support for perceptual analysis.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering University of West Bohemia in Pilsen Univerzitní 8 306 14 Plzeň Czech Republic

Klinik für Hals Nasen Ohrenheilkunde Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg Leipziger Straße 44 39120 Magdeburg Germany

Klinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie Medizinische Hochschule Hannover Carl Neuberg Straße 1 30625 Hannover Germany

Lehrstuhl für Mustererkennung Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen Nürnberg Martensstraße 3 91058 Erlangen Germany

Phoniatrische und Pädaudiologische Abteilung Klinikum der Universität Erlangen Nürnberg Bohlenplatz 21 91054 Erlangen Germany

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