Age-related differences in acoustical aspects of contrastive stress in women

Author(s): Petrosino, L., Colcord, R. D.

Journal/Book: Folia Phoniatr Logopaed. 1996; 48: Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland. Karger. 231-239.

Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to compare: the fundamental frequency (F-0), durational, and sound pressure characteristics of speech during production of contrastive stress, a suprasegmental component of speech, in young adult and elderly women. Results indicate that, while both groups significantly increased F-0, duration, and sound pressure level during production of contrastive stress, elderly women increased F-0 to a significantly greater extent than young women and, for all acoustic parameters, the groups were dissimilar in position effects. In spite of the age related differences, such differences did not appear to limit the ability of elderly women to provide linguistic information through prosody. However, they may do so differently from young women. These findings may have implications in terms of treatment of speech disorders in the elderly.

Note: Article GP Scukanec, Cent Michigan Univ, Dept Commun Disorders, 417 Moore Hall, Mt Pleasant, MI 48859 USA

Keyword(s): acoustic characteristics; contrastive stress; elderly voice; FUNDAMENTAL-FREQUENCY CHARACTERISTICS; TEMPORAL ASPECTS; ELDERLY ADULTS; SPEECH; SPEAKING; ENGLISH; VARIABILITY; UTTERANCE; PATTERNS

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