Impact of four nonclinical speaking environments on a child's fundamental frequency and voice level: A preliminary case study

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate how a child’s fundamental frequency (F0) and estimated voice level (dB SPL) change in distinct speaking environments. Method A child age 5;7 (years;months) wore a National Center for Voice and Speech voice dosimeter for 4 days. The 2 parameters measured were F0 and dB SPL. During analysis, the F0 and dB SPL data were segmented to represent 4 typical speaking environments of school-age children: (a) free-play (2.5 hr), (b) preschool (3 hr), (c) home (10.7 hr), and (d) adult (5.6 hr). Unique to this study, the child’s voice data were presented as voice use profiles. Results The child’s F0 and dB SPL patterns within an adult environment were similar to that found in the literature but showed much greater variation in the free-play environment. The preschool environment elicited speech of a lower modal F0 than did the home, but a higher median and mean F0, as well as a somewhat elevated mean dB SPL. Conclusion The child produced significantly different F0 and d...