The effect of hearing impairment on the vocal characteristics of older people

Author(s): Worrall, L. E., Hickson, L. M. H.

Journal/Book: Folia Phoniatr Logopaed. 1997; 49: Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland. Karger. 53-62.

Abstract: Measures of vocal intensity, frequency and harshness were compared for 19 hearing-impaired and 21 normal-hearing people over 60 years of age. Significantly greater comfortable intensity levels were found in the hearing-impaired group, but the other measures of frequency and harshness were not significantly different. A large proportion of the subjects in both groups reported a history of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER), a condition associated with vocal fold pathology and hoarseness. Comparison of the GER and non-GER subjects on the measures of vocal function showed that the female GER speaker exhibited lower frequency on the vowel /u/ than the non-GER subjects. Clinicians need to be aware of the effect of highly prevalent disorders such as hearing impairment and GER on the voices of elderly speakers.

Note: Article Worrall LE, Univ Queensland, Dept Speech Pathol & Audiol, Brisbane, Qld 4072, AUSTRALIA

Keyword(s): FUNDAMENTAL-FREQUENCY CHARACTERISTICS; ACOUSTIC CHARACTERISTICS; GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX; VOICE; MANIFESTATIONS; ADULTS; ACID

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