Correlation between acoustic-perceptual data and voice-related quality of life in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: vocal quality and voice-related quality of life in elderly women AIM: to assess the vocal quality and voice-related quality of life in elderly women, as well as verify if the presence of dysphonia has an influence on the life quality of these women. METHODS: one hundred and three elderly women, with ages ranging from 60 to 103 years, were recruited. The V-RQOL was answered by the participants and their voices were registered and analyzed perceptually by five experienced speech pathologists, using the GRBASI scale. After the intra-rater reliability analysis, three speech pathologists were selected with whom a single GRBASI scale was built for each of the participant's voice. Later, this single assessment was compared to the physical, socio-emotional and total V-RQOL scores. RESULTS: most of the elderly women presented V-RQOL total scores between 70 and 100. They also presented a mild to moderate vocal disorder in the overall scores related to dysphonia, roughness, breathiness and instability in the GRBASI scale and did not present scores related to asthenia or strain. The G, R, B and I parameters of the GRBASI scale were statistically correlated to the physical and total V-RQOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: although most of the elderly women presented some level of dysphonia, the vocal disorders did not have an influence on their life quality. However, the physical and total V-RQOL scores were correlated to dysphonia severity, indicating that the more sever the dysphonia, the lower the voice-related quality of life.

Correlação entre dados perceptivo-auditivos e qualidade de vida em voz de idosas / Correlation between acoustic-perceptual data and voice-related quality of life in elderly women

BACKGROUND: vocal quality and voice-related quality of life in elderly women AIM: to assess the vocal quality and voice-related quality of life in elderly women, as well as verify if the presence of dysphonia has an influence on the life quality of these women. METHODS: one hundred and three elderly women, with ages ranging from 60 to 103 years, were recruited. The V-RQOL was answered by the participants and their voices were registered and analyzed perceptually by five experienced speech pathologists, using the GRBASI scale. After the intra-rater reliability analysis, three speech pathologists were selected with whom a single GRBASI scale was built for each of the participant's voice. Later, this single assessment was compared to the physical, socio-emotional and total V-RQOL scores. RESULTS: most of the elderly women presented V-RQOL total scores between 70 and 100. They also presented a mild to moderate vocal disorder in the overall scores related to dysphonia, roughness, breathiness and instability in the GRBASI scale and did not present scores related to asthenia or strain. The G, R, B and I parameters of the GRBASI scale were statistically correlated to the physical and total V-RQOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: although most of the elderly women presented some level of dysphonia, the vocal disorders did not have an influence on their life quality. However, the physical and total V-RQOL scores were correlated to dysphonia severity, indicating that the more sever the dysphonia, the lower the voice-related quality of life.

TEMA: qualidade da voz e qualidade de vida em idosas. OBJETIVO: avaliar a qualidade vocal e a qualidade de vida relacionada à voz em idosas, bem como verificar se a presença ou não da disfonia influi na qualidade de vida dessas mulheres. MÉTODOS: trata-se de um estudo realizado com 103 idosas de 60 a 103 anos. As participantes responderam ao Questionário de Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Voz (QVV), suas vozes foram registradas e analisadas perceptivo-auditivamente, por meio da escala GRBASI, por 5 fonoaudiólogas. Após a análise estatística da confiabilidade intra-examinadoras, foram selecionadas 3 avaliações, com as quais foi construída uma escala GRBASI única para a voz de cada idosa. Posteriormente, essa avaliação única foi comparada aos escores físico, sócio-emocional e total do QVV. RESULTADOS: a maioria das idosas apresentou escores do QVV entre 70 e 100. As senhoras apresentaram grau de alteração leve a moderado nos parâmetros grau geral de disfonia, rugosidade, soprosidade e instabilidade da escala GRBASI e não apresentaram nenhum grau de alteração nos parâmetros astenia e tensão. Os parâmetros G, R, B e I da escala GRBASI aparecem estatisticamente correlacionados aos escores físico e total do QVV. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar da maioria das idosas apresentarem algum grau de disfonia, a alteração vocal não impactou a qualidade de vida das idosas. No entanto, os valores dos escores físico e total do QVV se correlacionaram com o grau de severidade da disfonia, indicando que quanto mais severa é a disfonia, menor é a qualidade de vida relacionada à voz.

Análise acústica da voz de mulheres idosas / Voice acoustic analysis in elderly women

OBJETIVO: avaliar medidas acústicas da voz de idosas. MÉTODOS: participaram 96 idosas, com idades entre 60 e 103 anos, divididas em três grupos conforme a faixa etária. RESULTADOS: valores da frequência fundamental foram: 193,81 Hz (Grupo 1), 195,71 (Grupo 2) e 187,60 Hz (Grupo 3). Extensão fonatória: 42,10 semitons (Grupo 1); 37,29 semitons (Grupo 2) e 38,75 semitons (Grupo 3). Os valores da frequência mínima e máxima foram, respectivamente, 103,62 Hz e 1099,1 Hz (Grupo 1); 102,28 Hz e 918,10 Hz (Grupo 2) e 88,73 Hz e 876,8 Hz (Grupo 3). Os valores do Tempo Máximo de Fonação da vogal /a/ foram 8,54 segundos (Grupo 1), 7,97 segundos (Grupo 2) e 7,52 segundos (Grupo 3). Para a vogal /i/ os valores foram de 8,82 segundos (Grupo 1), 8,44 segundos (Grupo 2) e 8,05 segundos (Grupo 3). Para a vogal /u/ os valores foram de 9,22 segundos (Grupo 1), 8,09 segundos (Grupo 2) e 7,95 segundos (Grupo 3). CONCLUSÃO: mulheres idosas apresentam uma frequência fundamental mais grave e tempos máximos de fonação das vogais diminuídos. A extensão fonatória máxima apresentou valores semelhantes aos de adultos jovens. Todas as medidas estudadas mostraram uma tendência de diminuição com o avanço da idade.

PURPOSE: to analyze acoustic measures in elderly women's voices. METHODS: ninth six elderly women, with ages between 60 and 103-year old, were recruited and separated in tree groups according to their ages. RESULTS: the values of fundamental frequency were 193. 81 Hz (Group 1), 195.71 (Group 2) and 187.60 Hz (Group 3). The Maximum phonatory extension were 42.10 semitones (Group 1); 37.29 semitones (Group 2) and 38.75 semitones (Group 3). The values of the minimum frequency and maximum frequency were respectively 103.62 Hz and 1099.1 Hz (Group 1); 102.28 Hz and 918.10 Hz (Group 2) and 88.73 Hz and 876.8 Hz (Group 3). The maximum phonation time of the vowel /a/ were 8.54 seconds (Group 1), 7.97 seconds (Group 2) and 7.52 seconds (Group 3). For the vowel /i/ the values were 8.82 seconds (Group 1), 8.44 seconds (Group 2) and 8.05 seconds (Group 3). For the vowel /u/ were 9.22 seconds (Group 1), 8.09 seconds (Group 2) and 7.95 seconds (Group 3). CONCLUSION: elderly women showed lower values of fundamental frequency and maximum phonation time. Maximum phonatory extension measure was similar to those found in young adults. All studied measures showed a decreasing trend with advancing age.