Test-retest nasalance score variability in hypernasal speakers

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Audiology
• Medical Acoustics

Background:

• Hypernasal resonance is a speech disorder often associated with cleft palate.
• Accurate assessment of hypernasal speech relies on consistent measurement techniques.
• Nasalance scores, measured using a Nasometer, quantify the degree of hypernasality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest variability of nasalance scores in individuals with hypernasal speech.
• To determine if changing the Nasometer headgear between measurements affects this variability.

Main Methods:

• 35 patients with hypernasal speech were divided into two groups: headgear not changed (NCHG) and headgear changed (CHG) between repetitions.
• Subjects recited the Turtle Passage and the Mouse Passage twice each.
• Nasalance scores were recorded using a Nasometer, and variability was analyzed between repetitions.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in nasalance scores between the first and second repetitions was found within either group.
• Higher test-retest variability was observed in the CHG group compared to the NCHG group for both passages.
• Specifically, 50% of CHG subjects for the Turtle Passage and 73% for the Mouse Passage had scores within 5 points, versus 88% for NCHG subjects for both passages.

Conclusions:

• Test-retest variability for nasalance scores is greater in hypernasal speakers than previously reported for normal speakers.
• Changing the headgear between repetitions significantly increases test-retest variability in hypernasal speakers.
• Standardized procedures, including consistent headgear placement, are crucial for reliable nasalance measurements in this population.