The above sound is produced by a patient saying the letter 'e'. Egophony (also aegophony) is an increased resonance of voice sounds heard when auscultating the lungs, often caused by compressed lung tissue due to pleural effusion, or consolidation due to infection (pneumonia) or tumor.

 

While listening on the chest with a stethoscope, the patient is asked to say 'e'. If we hear it like the sound of 'a' then the patient has egophony.

While listening on the chest with a stethoscope, the patient is asked to say 'e'. If we hear it like the sound of 'a' then the patient has egophony. The sound here assumes a 'nasal quality'. To demonstrate this, just try closing your nose with your fingers and then say 'e'. You will hear 'a'.

 

It is due to better transmission of high-frequency sounds across the abnormal tissues mentioned above, with lower frequencies being filtered out. It results in a high-pitched nasal or bleating quality in the affected person's voice, when auscultated over the affected area.