Section: 
Science articles
Science articlesObjective parameters of voice strength
V. V. Pevtsova (1), V. V. Shilenkova (1), O. V. Fedoseeva (1)
(1) Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, 150000, Russia
UDK: 612.78
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2016-2-86-91
ABSTRACT
It is believed that ageing makes the voice less resistant to voice stress. However, the change of quantitative characteristics of the voice strength still remains unexplored. The objective of the article is to study the objective parameters of voice resistance to stresses with regard to age and to determine the critical age period when these changes are the most evident. Clinical observations and methods: 122 healthy persons aged 18–83 y.o. without singing skills were divided into three age groups: Group I (43 people) 18–43 y.o., Group 2 (40) 44–59 y.o., Group 3 (40) 60–85 y.o. Voice strength was evaluated by the voice stress test (VST) during continuous reading of a text over 30 minutes in intensity modes of 65 dB, 80 dB and 65 dB, 10 minutes each. Results: in group I, all the subjects passed VST successfully. In Group 2, the test was completed by all men and 90% of women; in the Group 3 – by only 76.8% of the subjects. In the 2 and 3 groups, reliable voice strength decrease was marked. The critical period when the voice strength decreased to 70 dB, there was 42 y.o. for women, and 45 y.o. for men. After 56 y.o, the voice intensity decreased in average by 5 dB every 5 years. Conclusion: Significant changes in voice strength and intensity are observed as early as in middle age. They are more evident in women than in men.
Publication date:
31.03.2016
Keywords:
voice stress test, agerelated voice changes. For citation:
Pevtsova V. V., Shilenkova V. V., Fedoseeva O. V. Objective parameters of voice strength. Rossiiskaya otorinolaringologiya. 2016;2:86-91. https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2016-2-86-91