Vocal tract dimensional development of adolescents: An acoustic reflection study

Abstract 

Objective

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of age and gender on adolescents’ vocal tract dimensional development with acoustic reflection technology (ART).

Methods

A total of ninety-five male and female adolescents aged between 10 and 18 divided into three age groups were tested with acoustic reflection technology (ART) and acoustic program to secure their vocal tract dimensional parameters and the vowel formant frequencies.

Results

Significant age and gender effects were found not only in vocal tract length, but also segmental volumetric measurements, as well as the vowel formant frequencies.

Conclusions

The findings of this study have provided insights on the developmental trend of adolescents’ vocal tracts. The study has also offered a preliminary anatomical database of adolescents’ vocal tract dimensional growth for otolaryngologists, clinical anatomists, speech therapists and other health professionals of swallowing, respiration and communicative disorders.

Keywords: Vocal tract development, Adolescents, Speech acoustics