Comparison of nasalance scores obtained with the Nasometer 6200 and the Nasometer II 6400

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to compare nasalance scores obtained with the old Nasometer 6200 and the new Nasometer II 6400, and to evaluate test-retest reliability of nasalance scores on each machine. Design: Nasalance scores were obtained for 60 subjects reading each of two stimuli. Each subject read each stimulus two times on one machine; the head-gear was removed and replaced and each stimulus was read a third time. The same procedure was then repeated with the second machine. Within machines, nasalance scores were compared for repeated stimuli with and without head-gear change. The first reading of each stimulus with each machine was used to compare nasalance scores across machines. Participants: The subjects were 60 adults with normal speech ranging in age from 19 to 59 years. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were the 12 nasalance scores obtained for each of 60 subjects. Results: For both passages, there was a significant difference in nasalance scores between the old Nasometer and the Nasometer II; however, the actual variability that could be attributed to a difference between machines was small. Most of the variability between machines could be explained as within-subject performance variability and variability associated with headgear change. There was no significant difference in repeated scores within machines with or without headgear change. Conclusions: For clinical purposes, care should be exercised when comparing nasalance scores between the old Nasometer and the Nasometer II.