Adult normative data for phonatory aerodynamics in connected speech

Objectives/Hypothesis

To establish normative values for phonatory aerodynamic measurements in connected speech across adult ages and gender.

Study Design

Prospective data collection across group design.

Methods

One hundred fifty adults aged >18 years without voice complaints were stratified into three equal-age groups (group 1 [ages 18–39 years]; group 2 [ages 40–59 years], and group 3 [ages 60 + years]) and two equal-gender groups (male and female) resulting in 25 participants in each category. Participants read the first four sentences of the Rainbow Passage at comfortable pitch and loudness to obtain a connected speech sample. The following dependent variables were analyzed: breath number, reading passage duration, mean phonatory airflow, inspiratory airflow duration, and expiratory airflow duration.

Results

A gender effect was found for mean phonatory airflow, with males showing significantly greater phonatory airflow than females during connected speech (P < .001). Number of breaths was significantly greater for group 3 than group 2 (P < .001) and group 1 (P < .001). Duration, and inspiratory and expiratory airflow durations were all significantly greater for group 3 (P < .001) than group 2 (P < .001) than group 1 (P < .001).

Conclusions

This study provides normative data for phonatory aerodynamics in adult connected speech. Significant age and gender effects were observed. Laryngoscope, 2017

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