A Study of the Acoustic Voice Parameters Among Older Thai People in Chiang Mai

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine acoustic voice parameters among older Thai individuals in Chiang Mai-a northern Thai province with the third-largest elderly population and significant PM_2.5 exposure-and to compare these measures between normal and abnormal voice groups within this population.

The study involved 125 Thai elderly with normal voices, who were selected through a multi-stage sampling process and assessed by using the GRBASI scale (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain, Instability), and 45 elderly Thai individuals with abnormal voices, selected through purposive sampling and diagnosed by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor or assessed by using the GRBASI scale. Additionally, participants with normal voices underwent a speech discrimination test before voice recording. Participants vocalized /a/ for over 3 seconds and read a Thai passage for acoustic analysis using Praat. Analysis considered gender and age groups (60-69, 70-79, and 80+ years).

Data on acoustic voice parameters among older Thai individuals in Chiang Mai were reported, showing alignment with those from previous studies on different ethnic populations, except for the intensity parameter, which was found to be lower in this study. Statistically significant differences were found between normal and abnormal voice groups. In males, differences included fundamental frequency, speaking fundamental frequency, jitter local, shimmer local, and harmonic-to-noise ratio (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). In females, differences included jitter local and intensity (P < 0.001 and P = 0.045, respectively).

The findings provide a foundation reference for voice characteristics among Chiang Mai's elderly, which could potentially be relevant to elderly populations in other northern Thai provinces exposed to similar environmental conditions or particulate matter.