Normative Values of Nasal Resonance: Preliminary Data for Polish Working-Age Adults

Abstract

IntroductionEvaluation of nasal resonance is an important part of everyday otolaryngological, phoniatric, and speech therapy practice. It allows the detection and monitoring of anatomical and functional abnormalities in the nasal and oropharyngeal cavities. Nasal resonance can be objectively measured by assessing acoustic energy emitted by each of the subject’s nose and mouth. The ratio is called nasalance. The aim of this study was to develop normative values of nasal resonance on a digital device while adults were reading aloud Polish-language material.Material and methodsThe study included 51 patients. Patients were tested with three language tests developed by Gąsiorek in 1996. Nasal resonance was measured using a Nasometer II (Model 6450) from Pentax Medical.ResultsThe mean nasalance in the vowel test was 18.8% (SD = 7.8%). The mean nasalance during the test based on sentences was 14.3% (SD = 4.0%), and for reading continuous text it was 11.7% (SD = 3.7%). Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between men and women on each test. The limiting normative value for nasalance was determined to be 20% in the sentence test (test III of Gąsiorek 1996).Conclusions1. Preliminary normative values of nasal resonance for Polish adults have been established based on current methodology. 2. Language tests developed and already in use can be applied to modern digital devices.