Vocal tract dimensions of older teenagers with Down syndrome and non-impaired controls

Abstract

In response to a recent study, six dimensional parameters (oral length, oral volume, pharyngeal length, pharyngeal volume, total vocal tract length and total vocal tract volume) of the vocal tract in older teenagers and that of normal-developing cohorts were compared with smaller age disparities and larger number of participants. The vocal tract dimensions of 18 older teenagers with Down syndrome and 18 typically developing controls were measured by Acoustic Reflection technology using an Eccovision Acoustic Pharyngometer. Significant differences were found in pharyngeal volume, total vocal tract length and total vocal tract volume in the two groups, which provided insights on differences in vocal tracts between Down syndrome and normal group, a preliminary anatomical database of vocal tract dimensional growth for local teenagers with Down syndrome, and whether to carry out partial glossectomy to improve speech intelligibility for children with Down syndrome.