Title | Effects of ageing on orofacial fine force control and its relationship with parallel change in sensory perception. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2018 |
Authors | Etter NM, McKeon PO, Dressler EV, Andreatta RD |
Journal | Int J Speech Lang Pathol |
Volume | 20 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 502-515 |
Date Published | 2018 10 |
ISSN | 1754-9515 |
Keywords | Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Face, Female, Humans, Lip, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle, Skeletal, Perception, Sensation, Speech, Speech Disorders, Young Adult |
Abstract | PURPOSE: Current theoretical models suggest the importance of a bidirectional relationship between sensation and production in the vocal tract to maintain lifelong speech skills. The purpose of this study was to assess age-related changes in orofacial skilled force production and to begin defining the orofacial perception-action relationship in healthy adults. METHOD: Low-level orofacial force control measures (reaction time, rise time, peak force, mean hold force (N) and force hold SD) were collected from 60 adults (19-84 years). Non-parametric Kruskal Wallis tests were performed to identify statistical differences between force and group demographics. Non-parametric Spearman's rank correlations were completed to compare force measures against previously published sensory data from the same cohort of participants. RESULT: Significant group differences in force control were found for age, sex, speech usage and smoking status. Significant correlational relationships were identified between labial vibrotactile thresholds and several low-level force control measures collected during step and ramp-and-hold conditions. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate age-related alterations in orofacial force production. Furthermore, correlational analysis suggests as vibrotactile detection thresholds increase, the ability to maintain low-level force control accuracy decreases. Possible clinical applications and treatment consequences of these findings for speech disorders in the ageing population are provided. |
DOI | 10.1080/17549507.2017.1318303 |
Alternate Journal | Int J Speech Lang Pathol |
PubMed ID | 28466659 |