The aging voice: a review, treatment data and familial and genetic perspectives

Abstract

This paper will provide a review of aspects of vocal aging within the context of general body aging and describe two data sets related to the aging voice. Data will be presented which document pre- to posttreatment improvement in select voice characteristics (sound pressure level, subglottal air pressure, thyroarytenoid laryngeal muscle activity and voice quality) following application of an intensive voice treatment program (the LSVT) to 3 individuals with aged voice. Additionally, physiological data (forced expiratory volume, visual accommodation, bone density, taste discrimination, white blood count and resting heart rate) and select perceptual (perceived age) and acoustic measures (reflecting both cycle-to-cycle and longer-term intensity and frequency stability) from 67 subjects will be reviewed from the work of Gray and colleagues to document the differential impact of the global aging process across organ systems including the aging voice.