AGE AND SPEECH BREATHING (KINEMATICS, PHYSIOLOGY, RESPIRATORY).

Abstract

The present investigation was designed to elucidate the potential influence of age on speech breathing. Toward this end, 30 men representing three widely different age groups (25, 50, and 75 years) were studied. These individuals were carefully selected to meet stringent criteria, the most important of which related to health and physical characteristics. Speech breathing was studied via anteroposterior diameter changes of the rib cage and abdomen. Recordings were made during extemporaneous speaking and reading and during the performance of various chest wall maneuvers used in the measurement of the speech breathing data. In addition to speech breathing, selected measures of general respiratory function were obtained. These included measures of subdivisions of the lung volume and measures of resting tidal breathing. Results indicated that these 30 subjects were representative of other subjects studied with respect to measures of general respiratory function. Subdivisions of the lung volume were found to differ with age in the manner predicted by previous investigations. Age-related differences were most marked for measures of vital capacity and residual volume. By contrast, there were no age-related differences for measures of resting tidal breathing. Several speech breathing measures were found to differ with age. Age-related differences were usually between the 25- and 75-year-old subject groups and less commonly between the 25- and 50-year-old subject groups. For extemporaneous speaking, differences were found for lung volume excursion, rib cage volume initiation (referenced to the rib cage volume associated with the relaxed configuration of the chest wall), number of syllables per breath group, and lung volume expended per syllable (in percent vital capacity). For reading, differences were found for lung volume expended per syllable (in percent vital capacity). Age-related similarities and differences in general respiratory function and speech breathing are discussed in relation to possible underlying mechanisms. In addition, implications are drawn regarding evaluation and management of individuals with speech breathing disorders.