Tracheo-esophageal speech enhancement
Real-time pitch shift and output
T.J. Alers (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
B.A. Fennema (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
J.J. van Breukelen (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
R.M.A. van Puffelen – Mentor (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)
J. Bastemaijer – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)
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Abstract
Laryngectomised people (LP) have many problems with speaking in terms of intelligibility, volume and effort it takes. This thesis describes the design and simulation of a voice enhancement device which will improve the speech of LP with respect to intelligibility and volume. It only describes the chosen hardware peripherals in order to record, process, amplify, and output the modified speech.
The recorded audio could be processed using a digital signal processor (DSP) that could be programmed such that it will filter the undesired noise and shift the pitch of the speaker's voice in real-time.
This thesis focuses on the real-time pitch shifting of the voice, the hardware choices and implementation of the sound output of the system, and the implementation of DSP of the Tracheo-Esophageal Speech Signal Amplifier (TESSA).
The real-time pitch shifting makes use of the Ocean algorithm, of which the principle is described, implemented and tested. Intelligibility tests are performed in order to find the optimal shifting parameters.