In the Spotlight: The Influence of Microphone Visibility on Voice Production and Perception.

PURPOSE: This study examines whether the presence of a visible microphone during acoustic recordings of voice affects acoustic measures and self-reported vocal status in patients with voice disorders and controls. METHOD: Seventeen participants (7 with voice disorders; 10 controls) were enrolled. Voice recordings involved connected speech and a sustained vowel. These tasks occurred during a visible microphone condition and a non-visible microphone condition, presented in random order, before and after 45 minutes of voice use. Acoustic voice outcomes included measures of sound pressure level, cepstral peak prominence smoothed, and time dose. Self-reported vocal status ratings included vocal discomfort, vocal effort, and vocal congruence. RESULTS: Microphone visibility was associated with lower sound pressure level values and higher time dose values. There was no significant effect of microphone visibility on self-reported vocal discomfort, vocal effort, or vocal congruence. Exploratory group comparisons indicated that patients reported greater vocal discomfort and effort and lower vocal congruence than controls. CONCLUSION: In this sample, microphone visibility was associated with changes in certain acoustic outcomes but not with significant changes in self-reported vocal status. These findings suggest that microphone visibility may influence how speakers produce voice during clinical-voice evaluations, even when speakers do not report a corresponding change in vocal status. The results reinforce the importance of considering the recording context during acoustic voice assessments.