Study of Vocal Muscle Strain with Skin Deformation Tracking System

Abstract

Vocal strain can have a profound effect on a person's life and livelihood. However, methods to identify and quantify vocal strain presumed to originate in the laryngeal muscles severely lack. We aim to address this shortcoming. Using motion capture with consumer RGBD cameras, we track skin deformation of perilaryngeal anterior neck regions in participants with and without vocal strain. Neck movement variability differences between the two groups provides insight into extrinsic laryngeal vocal muscles that may underlie symptoms of vocal strain.