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Maximum phonation time in healthy older adults
Jonathan Maslan1, Xiaoyan Leng, Catherine Rees
1Department of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of the Voice Foundation
|March 29, 2011
Summary
Maximum phonation time (MPT) in healthy older adults is longer than previously reported and does not significantly differ by age or gender. Vocal function measurements were stable across three trials in a single session.
Area of Science:
- Vocal function assessment
- Gerontology
- Speech-language pathology
Background:
- Maximum phonation time (MPT) is a key measure of vocal function.
- Normative data for MPT in healthy older adults are limited.
- Understanding MPT variations in aging populations is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for MPT in healthy older adults.
- To investigate the influence of advanced age, gender, and repeated measures on MPT.
- To provide a baseline for vocal function assessment in geriatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 69 healthy older adult volunteers across three age decades.
- MPT was measured across three trials within a single session.
- Statistical analyses included ANOVA and ANCOVA to assess effects of age, gender, and trials.
Main Results:
- Mean MPTs were 22.27s (7th decade), 22.97s (8th decade), and 21.14s (9th decade).
- Mean MPTs for females and males were 20.96s and 23.23s, respectively.
- No statistically significant differences were found for age group, gender, or trial (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
- MPT in healthy older adults is longer than previously reported.
- MPT did not significantly vary with advanced age or gender in this cohort.
- MPT measurements demonstrated relative stability across three trials in a single session.
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