Speech Motor Systems Lab

Research Grant Collaborations

Dr. Anand, in collaboration with Drs. Dimitar Deliyski (Michigan State University, MSU; Principal Investigator), Stephanie Cotton (Mayo Clinic), David Eddins (USF), Rahul Shrivastav (University of Georgia, UGA) seek to discover and quantify physiological mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal vocal fold vibratory behavior and establish their relationships to voice quality perception in connected speech. This NIH-NIDCD R01 application began on August 1, 2022!!

ASHA 2022

Research on dysphonic voice quality perception titled "Multidimensional Perceptual Structure of Pediatric Dysphonia: Effects of Vibratory Source" was selected as a talk at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention to be held November 17-19 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Best Paper Awards

Research on dysphonic voice quality perception won two 2021 Best Paper Awards from the Journal of Voice in two categories.

These awards are voted on by the Editorial Board and acknowledge excellence in voice research.

1. Paper on "Using pitch height and pitch strength to characterize Type 1, 2, and 3 voice signals." in the Basic Science category. Anand, S., Kopf, L.M., Shrivastav, R., & Eddins, D.A. (2021). Using pitch height and pitch strength to characterize Type 1, 2, and 3 voice signals. Journal of Voice, 35(2), 181-193.

2. Paper on "Developing clinically relevant scales of breathy and rough voice quality." in the Speech-Language Pathology/Vocal Pedagogy category. Eddins, D. A., Anand, S., Lang, A., & Shrivastav, R. (2021). Developing clinically relevant scales of breathy and rough voice quality. Journal of Voice, 35(4), 663-e9.

Voice Foundation 2022

Dr. Anand presented an oral talk on "Sharpening our ability to quantify vocal strain: Success with a computational model of spectral sharpness and a novel matching stimulus" at the 51st Annual Symposium of the Voice Foundation: Care of the Professional Voice, Philadelphia, PA.

Voice Foundation 2021

Dr. Anand presented an oral talk on "Effects of covarying breathiness and roughness on dysphonia severity in natural voices" at the Virtual Voice Symposium, Annual Symposium of the Voice Foundation.

NIH R01 Award with ASSL on Voice Quality in Adults

In a new five-year project, titled “A Comprehensive Psychoacoustic Approach to Voice Quality Perception”, Drs. David Eddins, Supraja Anand , Erol Ozmeral, and Jeff Williams will work with colleagues at University of Georgia (UGA; Rahul Shrivastav) and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC); Dr. Heather Shaw Bonilha) to transform dysphonic voice quality assessment in clinical practice and in research by establishing new psychometric scales that accommodate sustained phonation and connected speech. This 2.8M research study led by Dr. Eddins is sponsored by National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) began Summer 2021.

NIH R01 Award with ASSL on Pediatric Voice

In a new five-year project, titled “Pediatric dysphonia: Multidisciplinary advances to improve voice quality outcomes”, Drs. David Eddins, Supraja Anand , Erol Ozmeral, and Jeff Williams will work with colleagues at University of Georgia (UGA; Rahul Shrivastav) and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC; Drs. Alessandro de Alarcon; Barbara Weinrich, Susan Baker Brehm, Lisa Kelchner) to better understand voice quality associated with pediatric voice disorders. This 2.3M research study led by Dr. Eddins is sponsored by National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) began Summer 2020.

Voice Foundation 2020

Dr. Anand and SMS alumni Desi Gutierrez's research projects were selected as oral presentations at the Virtual Voice Symposium, Annual Symposium of the Voice Foundation.

Accolades for Publications

Research on dysphonic voice quality perception was nominated for 2019 Best Paper Awards from the Journal of Voice in two categories.

1) Paper on "Perceptual and Quantitative Assessment of Dysphonia across Vowel Categories" in the Basic Science category. Anand, S., Skowronski, M. D., Shrivastav, R., & Eddins, D. A. (2019). Perceptual and quantitative assessment of dysphonia across vowel categories. Journal of Voice, 33(4), 473-481.

2) Paper on "Objective Indices of Perceived Vocal Strain” in the Speech-Language Pathology/Vocal Pedagogy category. Anand, S., Kopf, L. M., Shrivastav, R., & Eddins, D. A. (2019). Objective indices of perceived vocal strain. Journal of Voice, 33(6), 838-845.

The second paper won the 2019 Journal of Voice Best Paper Award

These awards are voted on by the Editorial Board and acknowledge excellence in voice research.

ASHA Conference

Multiple research projects presented at ASHA by Dr. Anand and SMS alumni at the Annual convention of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) November, 2019 (Orlando, FL).

Invited talk at the International Congress on Acoustics

Dr. Anand and Desi Gutierrez will be presenting their research on "Effects of background noise on acoustic-perceptual correlates of voice" at the 23rd International Congress on Acoustics, Aachen, Germany (Sep 9-13, 2019).

Graduation!!

Congratulations to Desi, Monica, Sheena, and Patricia on their graduation!!

USF Undergraduate Conference

Speech Motor Systems Lab was well represented at the USF Undergraduate Research Conference. Congratulations to Sheena!!

USF Undergraduate Conference

Speech Motor Systems Lab was well represented at the USF Undergraduate Research Conference. Congratulations to Desi!!

USF Undergraduate Conference

Speech Motor Systems Lab was well represented at the USF Undergraduate Research Conference. Congratulations to Patricia!! Her poster on Effects of Speech Task on Speech Naturalness and its Perceptual Correlates won an award!!

USF Undergraduate Conference

Speech Motor Systems Lab was well represented at the USF Undergraduate Research Conference. Congratulations to Monica!!

Faculty International Travel Grant

Dr. Anand was awarded a travel grant to present her invited talk on "Effects of background noise on acoustic-perceptual correlates of voice" at the 23rd International Congress on Acoustics, Aachen, Germany (Sep 9-13, 2019).

ASHA Conference

Lab members Desi and Patricia present their poster on "Perceptual Correlates of Speech Naturalness for Speakers with Parkinson's Disease" at the Annual convention of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) November, 2018.

Thesis

Congratulations to Camille Gray on successfully defending her Master's thesis titled "Relationship between Vocal Fatigue and Physical/Psychological Factors in Prospective Vocal Professionals".

Graduation

Congratulations to Allison Silver and Courtney Schlinz (Bachelors in Communication Sciences and Disorders) on their graduation.

New Investigator Research Grant

Dr. Anand awarded a research grant: A grant proposal submitted to the USF New Investigator Research Award has been funded. This proposal compares the similarities and differences between speech and hand function in people with and without Parkinson's disease.

SMS Team, 2017-2018

From Left: Sai, Camille, Patricia, Courtney, Supraja, Allison, Desi, Sheena, & Monica.