The Measurement of the Oral and Nasal Sound Pressure Levels of Speech

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to use a nasal separator to measure the nasal components of the speech of a normal adult Australian population. Measurements of the oral and nasal sound pressure levels were made on subjects as set passages were read and during periods of impromtu speech. Statistical procedures were used on the results of these measurements and these findings indicated that there was no difference in the oral and nasal sound pressure levels for read and spontaneous speech samples, but that females tended to have a much higher nasal component in their speech than did the male population.