FORMOFFA: An automated formant, moment, fundamental frequency, amplitude analysis of normal and disordered speech

A system for semi-automatic, multi-parameter acoustic analysis is described. The system, called FORMOFFA (For = FORmants, Mo = MOments, FF = Fundamental Frequency, A = Amplitude), operates on a PC microcomputer by adaptations of commercially available software. Data displays include a deterministic time record of instantaneous values, and an ergodic time-compressed distribution. In this report the technique is developed with a one-word example, and some measurement and reliability issues are described. The analysis possibilities are then illustrated with several applications: (1) segmental analysis of normal speech, (2) acoustic assessment of the effects of a progressive neurological disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) on sentence production, (3) acoustic study of palatal lift management of a patient with traumatic brain injury, and (4) phonetic assessment of word production by a subject with dysarthria. Although the current technique is recommended as a research tool, this kind of analysis promises several advantages for clinical application, including semi-automaticity, efficiency, parsimony, and relevance to both segmental and suprasegmental levels of analysis.