Normative nasalance scores in Chilean adults.

PURPOSE: The present study is aimed towards determining and comparing normative nasalance scores in Chilean Spanish-speaking adult men and women. METHODS: 40 women (age range 18 to 35, X = 25.79, SD = 5.83) and 36 men (age range 18 to 35, X = 26.45, SD = 4.08) were invited to participate, all of them without any previous speech therapy, neurological pathologies, intellectual deficits, hearing loss, syndromes, or other diagnosed pathologies that could impact speech production.A study of proper velopharyngeal function was performed, using a perceptual resonance evaluation. Nasalance was determined using a model 6450 Nasometer, during the reading of three standardized speech samples in Spanish: a nasal passage (NP), an oronasal passage (ONP), and an oral passage (OP). Also, the nasalance distance was calculated. Genders were compared using Wilcoxon tests for independent samples. RESULTS: The NP presented the highest percentage of nasalance, with 52.13% (± 4.73), followed by the ONP with 25.38% (± 3.7), and finally the OP, which presented the lowest value of 14.15% (± 5.03). Meanwhile, nasalance distance was 37.98% (± 5.32). Finally, no significant differences were observed when comparing the nasalance between genders (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: The nasalance values obtained were similar to those observed for other Spanish speakers. Also, male and women showed similar scores. The results of this study are a contribution to the indirect assessment of velopharyngeal function in Chilean adults.

Normative nasalance scores in Chilean adults / Valores normativos de nasalancia en adultos chilenos

ABSTRACT Purpose The present study is aimed towards determining and comparing normative nasalance scores in Chilean Spanish-speaking adult men and women. Methods 40 women (age range 18 to 35, X = 25.79, SD = 5.83) and 36 men (age range 18 to 35, X = 26.45, SD = 4.08) were invited to participate, all of them without any previous speech therapy, neurological pathologies, intellectual deficits, hearing loss, syndromes, or other diagnosed pathologies that could impact speech production. A study of proper velopharyngeal function was performed, using a perceptual resonance evaluation. Nasalance was determined using a model 6450 Nasometer, during the reading of three standardized speech samples in Spanish: a nasal passage (NP), an oronasal passage (ONP), and an oral passage (OP). Also, the nasalance distance was calculated. Genders were compared using Wilcoxon tests for independent samples. Results The NP presented the highest percentage of nasalance, with 52.13% (± 4.73), followed by the ONP with 25.38% (± 3.7), and finally the OP, which presented the lowest value of 14.15% (± 5.03). Meanwhile, nasalance distance was 37.98% (± 5.32). Finally, no significant differences were observed when comparing the nasalance between genders (p >0.05). Conclusion The nasalance values obtained were similar to those observed for other Spanish speakers. Also, male and women showed similar scores. The results of this study are a contribution to the indirect assessment of velopharyngeal function in Chilean adults.

RESUMEN Objetivo El presente estudio tiene como objetivo determinar y comparar puntajes normativos de nasalancia en hombres y mujeres chilenos de habla hispana. Método Participaron 40 mujeres (rango de edad de 18 a 35, X = 25.79, DE = 5.83) y 36 hombres (rango de edad de 18 a 35, X = 26.45, DE = 4.08), todos sin ningún antecedente de tratamiento fonoaudiológico, patologías neurológicas, déficit intelectual, hipoacusia, síndromes u otras patologías diagnosticadas que podrían afectar la producción del habla. La adecuada función velofaríngea fue determinada en vivo a través de una evaluación perceptual de la resonancia. La nasalancia se determinó utilizando un Nasometer modelo 6450, durante la lectura de tres muestras de habla estandarizadas en español: un párrafo nasal (PN), un párrafo oronasal (PON) y un párrafo oral (PO). Además, se calculó la distancia de nasalancia. La comparación entre ambos sexos fue realizada con el test de Wilcoxon para muestras independientes. Resultados El PN presentó el mayor porcentaje de nasalancia con 52.13% (± 4.73), seguido del PON con 25.38% (± 3.7), y finalmente el PO, que presentó el valor más bajo de 14.15% (± 5.03). En tanto, la distancia de nasalancia fue del 37.98% (± 5.32). Por último, no se observaron diferencias significativas al comparar entre ambos sexos (p> 0.05). Conclusión Los valores de nasalancia obtenidos fueron similares a los observados para otros hispanohablantes. Además, hombres y mujeres mostraron puntuaciones similares. Los resultados de este estudio son una contribución a la evaluación indirecta de la función velofaríngea en adultos chilenos.