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Air pressure regulation during speech production
J B Moon1, J W Folkins, A E Smith
1University of Iowa, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Iowa City 52242.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Respiratory system characteristics may explain constant vocal tract pressures during speech, even with airway leaks. This challenges theories of active compensatory responses for pressure regulation.
Area of Science:
- Speech Science
- Respiratory Physiology
- Acoustic Phonetics
Background:
- Individuals with repaired palatal clefts may experience airway leaks during speech.
- Vocal tract pressures are often maintained despite these leaks.
- Existing theories propose active compensatory mechanisms for pressure regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that constant vocal tract pressures result from constant respiratory system pressure source characteristics during speech.
- To differentiate this from theories of active reflexive pressure regulation.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted using a plastic vocal tract model and normal speakers.
- Experiments involved simulating airway leaks and varying gas density.
- Air pressure and flow patterns were measured and compared between the model and human speakers.
Main Results:
- Model experiments confirmed distinctions between constant flow and constant pressure sources.
- Observed pressure and flow patterns in normal speakers with leaks aligned with model data.
- Gas density variations influenced pressure and flow patterns in ways consistent with a constant pressure source hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that constant pressure source characteristics of the respiratory system may influence intraoral air pressure maintenance during speech.
- This provides evidence supporting a non-reflexive explanation for pressure regulation in the presence of airway leaks.
- The study offers an alternative perspective to active compensatory response theories.