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Speech breathing in children and adolescents
J D Hoit1, T J Hixon, P J Watson
1University of Arizona Institute for Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Tucson.
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Speech breathing in children and adolescents shows significant age-related changes, with 7-year-olds exhibiting distinct patterns. By age 10, speech breathing largely resembles adult patterns, indicating developmental maturation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Physiology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of speech breathing is crucial for identifying potential communication or respiratory disorders.
- Previous research has indicated age and sex influence various physiological measures, but specific impacts on speech breathing require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of speech breathing in children and adolescents.
- To determine the influence of sex and age on speech breathing performance in young individuals.
Main Methods:
- Eighty healthy children and adolescents (ages 7, 10, 13, 16) participated.
- Helium dilution was used to measure lung volume subdivisions.
- Magnetometers assessed resting tidal breathing and speech breathing patterns.
Main Results:
- Sex did not significantly impact speech breathing performance.
- Age was a critical factor, with 7-year-olds showing larger breath volumes and fewer syllables per breath group compared to older children.
- Speech breathing patterns approached adult-like characteristics by the end of the first decade of life.
Conclusions:
- Speech breathing undergoes significant development during childhood and adolescence.
- Key differences in speech breathing mechanics are observed between younger (7-year-old) and older children.
- Findings suggest that most speech breathing mechanisms are established by age 10, with implications for clinical assessment and intervention.