Nasometry

Software options

NasalanceViewer

NasalanceViewer is easy-to-use Windows software that provides an ideal introduction to nasometry. Features include:

• Provides real-time visual feedback of nasalance
• Provides off-line objective analysis of nasalance
• Provides auditory playback of speech production
• Waveform display with adjustable target cursor
• Skywriter game with adjustable target cloud
• Simple to use interface
• Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista compatible

NasalanceViewer 3D

In addition to providing numerical displays of nasalance and nasal-oral speech, NasalanceViewer 3D uses state-of-the-art computer animation and 3D modelling techniques to approximate velopharyngeal closure and nasal-oral airflow.

The animated 3D model consists of the lips, teeth, tongue, lower jaw, hard palate, soft palate and uvula. The transparency of these articulators can be adjusted to reveal hidden structures, and the model can be rotated 360°. Airflow clearly illustrates the difference between nasal, oral, voiced and voiceless sounds.

Additional features include:

• Real-time visual feedback of nasalance
• Off-line objective analysis of nasalance
• Auditory playback of speech production
• Photorealistic and stylised views
• File format compatible with icSpeech Professional Edition
• Windows 10 64-bit and 8 64-bit compatible

icSpeech Professional Edition

The Nasality Microphone is also compatible with the multiparameter speech visualisation and analysis package icSpeech Professional Edition, which supports a wealth of additional features.

When used in combination with icSpeech Professional Edition, the following parameters are available:

Parameter	Description
Nasal speech	Nasal acoustic signal
Nasal speech intensity	Low pass filtered nasal speech envelope
Oral speech	Oral acoustic signal
Oral speech intensity	Low pass filtered oral speech envelope
Speech	Combined nasal and oral acoustic signal
Speech intensity	Low pass filtered speech envelope
Pitch	Derived from the combined acoustic signal
Nasalance	Percentage of the total acoustic energy that is nasal

Features include:

• Additional displays: bar, waveform, spectrogram and video
• Additional parameters: nasalance, pitch, timing, nasal and oral acoustic energy
• Six games with adjustable targets and rewards
• Extensive analysis features
• Data export facility
• Recorder with picture and word prompting
• Combines nasometry with EPG, airflow, voicing and video data
• Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista compatible

The importance of acoustic separation in nasometry

For accurate results, it is important that there is a good seal between the face, just above the upper lip, and the acoustic separator. This prevents oral sounds being detected by the nasal microphone and vice versa. To ensure a good seal, the acoustic separator incorporates large and small facial contours. Simply rotate the nasal and oral microphones so they point to the side that best fits the contours of the face. The acoustic separator is also fitted with highly directional noise cancelling microphones, which further improve the acoustic separation.

Microphone matching

It is also important that the nasal and oral microphones are acoustically matched. During the manufacturing process, both the sensitivity and frequency response of the nasal and oral microphones are individually matched. This eliminates the need for the user to calibrate the Nasality Microphone. The microphone matching characteristics are supplied with each device.

Cleaning

The Nasality Microphone is easy to dismantle and clean. The foam windshields covering the nasal and oral microphones can be removed and replaced, or washed in warm soapy water. The individual microphones, acoustic separator and handle can be removed and thoroughly cleaned with disposable disinfection wipes.