Respiration Physiology during speech production

Question 1

What 3 things do we need for speech production?

Answer 1

1. Power supply = THE LUNGS
2. Sound source= Vocal folds
3. System of valves and chambers= articulators and cavities

Question 2

The respiratory pump during speech requires a process whereby:

Answer 2

• air can be placed under pressure and controlled when released
• system produces “driving forces” for sound generation

Question 3

Driving forces work to:

Answer 3

• displace structures
• create pressure behind valves
• generate flows through constrictions in upper airways

Question 4

Phonatory Threshold requirements for speech

Answer 4

• minimum of 2 cmH2O is needed to achieve voicing during conversational level speech
• this is the lowest pressure needed to place vocal folds in vibration

Question 5

Psg requirements for soft/low speech

Answer 5

• 3 cmH2O

Question 6

Psg requirements for normal speech

Answer 6

6-8 cmH2O

Question 7

Psg requirements for loud speech/singing

Answer 7

15-20 cmH2O

-cough/sneeze: greater than 200 cmH2O

Question 8

Technically, at 100% VC we should be able to produce 40cmH2O BUT instead we maintain a level of, for example, 6 cmH2O. What mechanism is taking up the slack and accounting for the unused pressure available as described by the relaxation pressure curve?

Answer 8

• ACTIVE muscle force is applied in the opposite direction to lung pressures generated passively.

Question 9

Why is it necessary for active muscles to be applied in the opposite direction of passive forces?

Answer 9

• because muscle activity acts as a braking system to slow and control the release of air pressure after the lungs have been inflated of deflated
• amount of “braking” needed depends on how much relaxation pressure one has at any given time during a vocalization task

Question 10

Looking at this chart, what is happening from 100-55% VC?

Answer 10

• slow exhlation due to the use of inspiratory muscles

Question 11

What is happening at 55% VC?

Answer 11

• at 6 cmH2O no muscles are needed
• no air in, no air out

Question 12

What’s happening from 54% VC and lower?

Answer 12

• use expiratory muscles

Question 13

What does this graph show?

Answer 13

• the amount of muscle activity needed to overcome relaxation pressure in order to meet the demands of a task (6 cmH2o)

Question 14

What does grey represent on the chart?

Answer 14

muscle activity

Question 15

When is inspiratory effort exerted?

Answer 15

during the expiratory task/utterance UNTIL expiratory relaxation pressures are insufficient for the task

Question 16

When relaxation pressures are insufficient for the task what is used to continue vocalizing?

Answer 16

active expiratory effort

Question 17

Summary of Checking Action

Answer 17

• active muscle contraction is added to relaxation pressure to produce controlled levels and release of lung pressure

Question 18

Summary of Relaxation Pressure

Answer 18

• spring like bachground force
• expiratory at lung volumes above resting position
• inspiratory at lung volumes below resting position

Question 19

Inspiratory muscles active during speech

Answer 19

diaphragm, external intercostals

Question 20

Expiratory muscles active during speech

Answer 20

internal intercostals, rectus abdominis (during LOUD speech)

Question 21

Why does speech usually use the mid-range of VC?

Answer 21

mid range takes the least amount of energy to manipulate

at extreme ends, its stiffer and more difficult to manipulate