The voice of people with Down syndrome: An EMG biofeedback study

Abstract

The laryngeal muscle tension of a group of 30 adult Ss with Down's syndrome was compared with that of 3 other groups: 32 Ss with learning disabilities, 18 Ss with functional dysphonia (a voice disorder caused by misuse of the vocal mechanism), and 29 normal control Ss. The scores obtained were analyzed by electromyographic feedback to determine whether there were significant differences in the way in which voice is produced by the 4 groups. The chief finding is that the energy level needed to activate the vocal mechanism from its at rest level to its voicing level is almost twice as great for the group with Down's syndrome as for the control group. Implications for therapeutic interventions are considered. It is felt that new strategies to aid voicing need to be developed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)