Nasalance scores in Lebanese English-speaking adults using nasometric analysis

Abstract EN

To obtain normative data for nasalance scores in Middle Eastern English-speaking adult population.

Design : Cross-sectional study.

Participants : A total of 102 subjects were recruited in the study, 26 were excluded, thus, 77 Middle Eastern English-speaking adults (mean age = 23.77 ± 4.295 ; 39 males, 38 females) with normal speech and no hearing problems participated in the study.

Interventions : Using Nasometer II 6450, nasalance scores were obtained for each participant’s readings of 3 passages: Zoo and Rainbow passages and nasal sentences.

Main outcome measures : Mean nasalance score, standard deviation and range.

Results : Mean nasalance scores for Zoo passage, Rainbow passage and nasal sentences were 25.21 ± 11.07, 34.04 ± 9.30 and 41.29 ± 9.87 respectively.

Mean scores didn’t differ significantly between males and females, though scores for the Zoo passage were slightly higher among males (26.51 ± 11.66) than females (23.87 ± 10.42).

In within-session reliability testing, 86% of retests for all three passages fell within 5 nasalance points of the previous test.

In across-session reliability testing, 93% of retests for all 3 passages were within 5 points of initial test.

Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides normative data for nasalance scores among Middle-Eastern adults, which can help make nasometer and determination of nasalance more clinically useful in this population.