Influence of sarcopenia on perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic vocal parameters of the elderly

• Grant number: 19/22042-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Lílian Neto Aguiar Ricz
• Grantee: Ruth Nunes de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Over the years, the population that has grown the most is the elderly, with projections to be even higher due to the decrease in fertility and mortality rates. This fact generates the need for long-therm and integral health care, focused on the elderly in order to maximize its functionality and well-being. Aging and sarcopenia may promote morphophysiological changes in voice functions, but there is a lack of data in the literature to distinguish the effects of sarcopenia itself from those of aging. Objective: To compare vocal, acoustic, aerodynamic parameters between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly. Methodology: 60 elderly will participate and will be allocated in two groups, according to medical evaluation of sarcopenia (GE: 30 sarcopenic, GC: 30 non-sarcopenic) belonging to the Geriatric Outpatient Clinic and referred to the Head and Neck Surgery Division of HCFMRP - USP for laryngeal medical evaluation, respecting the pre-established inclusion criteria. Then, each participant will be submitted to voice material collection for auditory-perceptual evaluation, recording and capture of vocal and aerodynamic parameters, through the Model 6600 Phonatory Aerodynamic System (SAF) (KayPentax®) and acoustic analysis that will be performed using Multi- Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) from KayPentax® Computerized Speech Lab Model 6103 software.