Sara Heydari
1, Peyman Zamani
2*, Hasan Khorramshahi
2, Seyedeh Maryam Mousavi
31 Speechtherapy Dept, School of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
3 Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurologic disorder characterized by wide clinical features. Some voice features and signs of these patients are used by speech therapists for differential diagnosis for its speech disorders. The aim of present study was to compare some vocal and respiratory indices of MS patients with normal subjects in Ahvaz city. Material & Methods: In this cross-sectional analytic study, 30 patients with Multiple Sclerosis and 30 normal subjects (aged between 21 to 50 years) were compared based on Fundamental frequency (F0) and Maximum Phonation Time (MPT). Dr.Speech software was used for speech analysis and SPSS program was applied for data analysis. Results: Mean of fundamental frequency in male and female patients was 130.53±68.11 and 194.91±33.12 Hz, respectively; and also mean of maximum phonation time in male and female patients was 11.25±2.71 and 9.21±2.32 seconds, respectively. Also, mean of fundamental frequency in male and female was 135.62±46.25 and 217.16±17.21 Hz, respectively; and mean of maximum phonation time in normal subjects was 23.73±3.62 and 19.30±3.44 seconds, respectively. Patients with MS had lower scores and significant differences than the control group in all the studied variables (p<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that variations of F0 and MPT are two respiro-vocal features that could be used for speech features differential diagnosis of MS patients from normal subjects.