Understanding Respiratory System Dynamics in Speech Production

1. Speech Science Chapter 4 Respiratory System

2. Resting Expiratory Level (REL) • State of equilibrium – Opposing forces • Lungs tension to collapse • Thorax tension to expand • Palv = Patmos

3. Breathing for Life • Quite (passive) breathing - Automatic process • Air intake determined reflexively

4. BreathingLife Speech • Location of air intake typically nasal. • Ratio time about equal (40/60%). • Volume – TV about 500 cc (10% change VC). • 40 – 50% VC. • Muscle activity exhalation passive. • Location of air intake oral. • Ratio time larger on exhalation (10/90%). • Volume depends on utterance, age, and purpose. • Muscle activity exhalationactive.

5. Speech Exhalation – Controlled Exhalation Cycle • Passive recoil controlled • Diaphragm • External intercostals • Continued exhalation (beyond REL) • Abdominal muscles

6. Speech Respiratory Features • Pressure • Volume

7. Speech Respiratory Features • Flow • Chest wall shape

8. Air Pressures (cm H2O) • Inside the lungs – • Pressure Alveolar (Palv) • Subglottal – • Pressure Tracheal (Ps or Ptrach) • Oral pressure (Poral)

9. Static Pressures – Oral/Nasal Manometer • Point estimate of pressure. • cm H2O • Not suitable for dynamic measurement (speech)

10. Dynamic Measure • Oral pressures • Pressure transducer

11. Oral Pressures – Relatively Low • Dynamic speech pressure about (5 –10 cm H2O) • Effortful pressure child (35 –50 cm H2O) • Adult effortful pressure (> 60 cm H2O) • Relatively low pressure • Must be sustained • Coordinated muscular checking action

12. Subglottal & Alveolar Pressures • Direct measure • Invasive • Indirect measure • Oral pressure on stop consonant /p/

13. Airflow (Volume Velocity) • Related to supra-tracheal structures • Larynx • Glottis • Articulators • VP port • Tongue & Lips (plus) Pneumotachograph

14. Lung Volume – Chest Wall Shape • Measured directly spirometer. • Measured indirectly - Respiratory Kinematic Analysis. • rib cage & abdominal movement. Plethysmography

15. Chest Wall Shape - Speech • Speech configuration (relative to resting position) • Rib cage larger • Abdomen smaller

16. Lifespan Changes in Speech- Children. • Smaller lungs & thorax. • increase to about 14-16 years. • Use higher percentage of VC. • Breathing less efficient (use more effort). • Less fluent (more pauses, repetitions, verbal mazes, etc.)

17. Lifespan Changes in Speech- Older Adults • Chest wall changes • Lung • Less efficient than young adults • Intelligibility good, however • use more air per syllable • inhale more frequently

18. Questions? • Next week quiz • Try to write key concepts (handout 2) from memory • check text for answers • Be familiar with structures & function • see figures in handout

19. Also next week • Nicole (AKA Bob) will present on chapter 5. • Clinical Applications of Respiration Breakdowns. • Have GOOD questions prepared.

20. Explain the process of respiration.

21. Exhalation passive forces for life breathing • Gravity • Muscular relaxation • External intercostals • Diaphragm • Elasticity • Alveolar • NOT Rib torque

22. Rib Torque

23. Rib Torque Misconception • Peak Resting Exhalation • Ribs negative torque (thorax/lung opposition) • Resting inhalation • Ribs untwist outward (negative torque decreases) assist inspiration • Thorax reaches “unsprung” volume • Ribs reach zero torque @ 60% VC

24. Rib Torque • Force attempts to expand thorax • Assists with passive inhalation (not exhalation) Return

25. picture inhalation exhalation

26. Electromyography (EMG)

27. Pneumotachograph Mask

28. Pneumotachograph

29. Opto-electronic Plethysmography

30. Handheld Pneumotachograph

31. Youkyoung Bae

32. Relaxation Pressures • Air pressures generated by recoil forces • Palv is positive at maximum inhalation • At 100% VC Palv is 60 cm3 H2O (60 cc) • As lung volume decreases Palv decreases