Differences in acoustic and perceptual parameters of the voice between elderly and young women at habitual and high intensity.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to compare elderly and young female voices in habitual and high intensity. The effect of increased intensity on the acoustic and perceptual parameters was assessed.


METHODS
Sound pressure level, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic to noise ratio were obtained at habitual and high intensity voice in a group of 30 elderly women and 30 young women. Perceptual assessment was also performed.


RESULTS
Both groups demonstrated an increase in sound pressure level and fundamental frequency from habitual voice to high intensity voice. No differences were found between groups in any acoustic variables on samples recorded with habitual intensity level. No significant differences between groups were found in habitual intensity level for pitch, hoarseness, roughness, and breathiness. Asthenia and instability obtained significant higher values in elderly than young participants, whereas, the elderly demonstrated lower values for perceived tension and loudness than young subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Acoustic and perceptual measures do not demonstrate evident differences between elderly and young speakers in habitual intensity level. The parameters analyzed may lack the sensitivity necessary to detect differences in subjects with normal voices. Phonation with high intensity highlights differences between groups, especially in perceptual parameters. Therefore, high intensity should be included to compare elderly and young voice.
Departamento de Salud Pública, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brasil.
Keyla S
KS
Mazzetto de Menezes
Departamento de Artes Escénicas, Instituto de Artes, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Paulo, Brasil.
Suely
S
Master
Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: guzmanvoz@hotmail.com.
Marco
M
Guzman
Language and Voice Experience Clinic, Rockville, Maryland, Estados Unidos.
Cori
C
Bortnem
Departamento de Salud Pública, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brasil.
Luiz Roberto
LR
Ramos
D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Acústica del habla; Aging; Auditory perception; Cualidad vocal; Envejecimiento; Percepción auditiva; Speech acoustics; Voice quality