Pitch and Duration Characteristics of Older Males

Abstract

Twelve individuals ranging in age from 65 to 79 years with a mean age of 73.3 years, 12 individuals within the age group of 80 to 92 years with a mean age of 85.0 years, and 15 sons of these persons ranging in age from 32 to 62 years with a mean age of 47.9 years, were asked to record the 98-word first paragraph of the Rainbow Passage which had been previously practiced as well as a sample of impromptu speech. All reading performances were slightly higher in pitch than impromptu speaking. These measures manifested a progressive upward trend as a function of age. Pitch variability decreased with age. Adult males age 80 to 92 are characterized by significantly higher pitch levels than adult males aged 65 to 79.