Effect of Speech Passage Duration on Talk Test Response

Abstract

The Talk Test (TT) is a simple technique for prescribing exercise training intensity, based on the ability to ‘speak comfortably’ after reciting a standard speech provoking stimulus. PURPOSE: This study compares the duration of the speech provoking stimulus on the PO at standard TT speech comfort markers (Last Positive (LP), Equivocal (EQ), Negative (NEG). METHODS: Healthy subjects performed incremental (25W/2 min) exercise with gas exchange to measure ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation (RCT) thresholds. They also performed incremental exercise (random order) while repeating a standard speech provoking stimulus (31 words) 1x, 2x or 3x to allow identification of LP, EQ & NEG points in the TT. The PO at LP, EQ & NEG, in relation to the PO at VT & RCT were compared. RESULTS: The relationship between [email protected] vs LP1,2,3 (r=0.73, 0.65, 0.56) and EQ1,2,3 (r=0.74, 0.65, 0.56) and RCT vs NEG1,2,3 (r=0.78, 0.80.0.71) were reasonably strong. The mean error for predicting [email protected] was smaller with longer speech passage durations for LP1,2,3 (+11±29.6, -11.±34.2, -25+34.7 W), for EQ1,2,3 (+36±29.7, +14.±34.2, +0.1±36.65 W), and for NEG1,2,3 vs RCT (+18±24.8, +11±23.2, −0.11±28.9 W). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that longer speech duration passages (10 vs 20 vs 29s) give more a more accurate prediction of VT/RCT based on TT EQ and NEG responses.