Speech Acoustic Parameters for Predicting Presbyphagia: A Preliminary Study in the Elderly Shanghainese Population

Yuxin Sun; Wensheng Zhao; Xiaoxi Kang; Xiaoyu Wang; Hakyung Kim; Qin Wan; Tong Ge; Qing Xie

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.01.001

Speech Acoustic Parameters for Predicting Presbyphagia: A Preliminary Study in the Elderly Shanghainese Population

J Voice. 2024 Jan 16:S0892-1997(24)00001-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.01.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yuxin Sun¹, Wensheng Zhao², Xiaoxi Kang², Xiaoyu Wang², Hakyung Kim³, Qin Wan⁴, Tong Ge⁵, Qing Xie⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
² Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China. Electronic address: hgjin@spe.ecnu.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China. Electronic address: ada.wan@hotmail.com.
⁵ Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
⁶ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China.

PMID: 38233249
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.01.001

Abstract

Purpose: Age is a high-risk factor for dysphagia. Speech and swallowing share the same anatomical and neurophysiological basis. Their functions are closely related; hence, speech assessment can predict the risk of dysphagia. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing presbyphagia in a normal elderly Shanghainese population by analyzing speech acoustic parameters.

Methods: Relevant speech acoustic parameters were compared between 15 people with dysphagia and 15 without dysphagia. After extracting sensitive speech acoustic parameters related to swallowing, changes in sensitive parameters were compared at different ages to analyze the relevant factors influencing presbyphagia in the normal elderly population.

Results: Eight speech acoustic parameters related to swallowing, including maximum phonation time (MPT), max F₀, /ʔʌ/Jitter, /ʔʌ/L-DDK, /hʌ/L-DDK, /pataka/DDK, F1/a/, and vowel space area, were extracted after comparing the relevant data between the two groups. Analyzing the changes in each of these parameters between different age groups (age 18-39, 40-64, and 65 and above), we discovered that three speech acoustic parameters, including MPT, /hʌ/L-DDK, and /pataka/DDK, had statistical differences, with a decreasing trend in their mean values with increasing age.

Conclusions: The elderly group had significantly lower MPT, /hʌ/L-DDK, and /pataka/DDK than the young and middle-aged groups. We hypothesized that reduced respiratory support and control, decreased range of mouth movements and coordination, closed control of the vocal cords, and inadequate airflow control in vocal cord abduction are risk factors for presbyphagia in the elderly Shanghainese population.

Keywords: Laryngeal diadochokinesis; Maximum phonation time; Oral diadochokinesis; Presbyphagia; Shanghainese population; Speech acoustic parameters.