• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

Many previous studies based on respiratory characteristics of Idiopathic Parkinson's Diseases (IPD) patients have not controlled related factors appropriately. Accordingly, these studies produced discordant results. Furthermore, there is currently a lack of studies that can provide precise explanations on the characteristics of respiration and phonation. This study included a total of 40 subjects: 20 mixed gender de novo IPD patients ranging in age from 50 to 80 (Hoehn & Yahr stage 1~3), and 20 normal subjects with similar matches for age and gender. All participants were controlled based on their gender, age, height, weight, vocal fold function, cognitive abilities, and depression factors. K-MMSE (Korean-Mini Mental State Examination), nVHI-10 (new Voice Handicap Index), and KGDS (Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale) were evaluated to select this study subjects. In order to compare respiratory functions between the two groups, FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were measured using microQuark, a PC-based spirometer. CSL was used by measure MPT and PAS was used to measure MFR. To investigate the characteristics of phonation ability, CSL was used to measure jitter and shimmer, while PAS was used to measure Psub. In order to compare the respiratory function averages and phonation ability between the two groups, statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 12.0). The results of this study showed that most de novo IPD patients were included in the normal average range of respiratory and phonatory ability. But the respiratory and phonatory ability of de novo IPD patients showed lower tendency as compared with the normal group. When the average of respiratory and phonatory ability among the gender was compared, the difference of males was greater than the difference of females.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 2010

Korea does not have a certain criteria on the respiratory ability and phonation of the normal aged, and also has no clear standard to examine the boundaries of geriatric diseases. This study analyzed the characteristics in respiration and phonation of the aged in normal healthy elderly from diverse angles with different variables. Thirty-three participants in total, seven males and eight females in the age group 55-64 participated in the study. Seven males and eleven females in the age group 65-74 were selected for the respiration and phonation experiments, and 10 different variables such as FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, MPT, MFR, Psub, f0, jitter, shimmer and NHR were comparatively analyzed for each group of different age and gender. To see the difference in respiration and phonation by age and gender, the study conducted a two-way ANOVA. First, from the result of the analysis on respiratory ability, FVC of male appeared to be significantly greater than female. In both age groups of 55-64 and 65-74, male displayed greater FVC than female did. Second, as for $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, the age group of 55-64 showed greater values than the values measured in the age group of 65-74. Third, MFR showed a significant difference by gender. In both age groups, male showed significantly higher MFR than female. Fourth, for different gender, a significant difference in MFR was observed. In both age groups of 55-64 and 65-74, male exhibited higher MFR than female. This study has a clinical implication in that it analyzed the criteria on respiration and phonation in normal healthy elderly according to gender and age. The normal aged showed a difference in their respiratory and phonatory functions by age and gender, it was closely related to the decline of pulmonary function due to the physical aging and the weak respiration coming from weakness of respiratory muscles. Also, the physical differences in height, weight, and the muscles in laryngeal and respiratory system between males and females had an influence on the performance. These results from this study might be a helpful guideline for the clinical criterion in the future.