Intra-Subject Variability and the Effect of Speech Task on Vocal Fundamental Frequency of Young Adult Australian Males and Females

Abstract

Exploring the normal effects of speech task and intra-subject variability on fundamental frequency and range is relevant to the clinical assessment of pathological voices. However, to date relatively little attention has been given to these two aspects nor to the collection of Australian normative data of fundamental frequency and range. The effects of gender, speech task, and intra-subject variability on vocal fundamental frequency were investigated in twenty four males and twenty four females aged between 18 and 24 years. Mean fundamental frequency and range were both significantly affected by gender and speech task, but the intra-subject variability was found to be not significant. The effect of speech task on mean and range of fundamental frequency was largely due to differences between spontaneous speech and reading within the female subjects. Normative data were obtained for both genders of the age group between 18 and 24 years.