What is one advantage of using electroglottography (EGG) over acoustic methods?

One of the primary advantages of using electroglottography (EGG) is that it is less sensitive to other vocal tract effects. EGG measures the electrical impedance across the vocal folds during phonation, which allows it to provide information about the vibratory patterns of the vocal folds themselves, independent of the subsequent acoustic effects that occur in the vocal tract. This means that EGG can offer a clearer representation of vocal fold function, particularly in the presence of noise or other variables that might affect acoustic measurements.

Acoustic methods, on the other hand, can be influenced by various factors such as formant frequencies, resonance characteristics of the vocal tract, and background noise. These effects can sometimes complicate the analysis of vocal fold dynamics, making it more challenging to assess the true state of the vocal quality or to diagnose certain conditions. By minimizing the impact of these external influences, EGG provides a focused view of laryngeal activity, enhancing its utility in clinical and research settings related to voice production and disorders.