Question

What is the main effect of increased subglottal pressure on the sound of the voice? Explain why increased loudness often leads to a slight increase in pitch as well.

Answer 1

Subglottal pressure is defined as the airflow through the leakage of air between the vocal folds and the resistance of the flow during speaking. This subglottal pressure is also known as 'lung pressure'.

• Increased subglottal pressure is due to increase in vocal intensity (function of lung pressure), which thereby leads to increase in noise production and fundamental frequency (lowest frequency produced by oscillation of an object). So, the effect of increased subglottal pressure also increases noise production and fundamental frequency, which increases the sound of voice.
• If the loudness increase, the pitch will automatically increase due to subglottal pressure as it is easier to sing a high note loudly than to sing it softly due to the influence of larynx and lungs. So, if the subglottal pressure increases, there will be an increase in loudness and pitch.

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