| Relationships among Speech Intelligibility, Chewing Ability and Depression in Older Adults |
Ja Young Kima
, and Hyang Hee Kimb
|
aDepartment of Speech, Rehabilitation, and Counseling, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung, Korea
bGraduate Program of Speech-Language Pathology; Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
| Corresponding Author:
Hyang Hee Kim ,Tel: +82-2-2228-3900, Fax: +82-50-4345-7900, Email: hkim97.yonsei@gmail.com |
|
Received January 3, 2025 Revised: February 26, 2025 Accepted March 20, 2025 |
|
|
Share : 
|
| ABSTRACT |
Objectives
Due to anatomical and physiological changes, older adults often experience impaired speech intelligibility and reduced chewing ability which are frequently accompanied by depression. However, little research has been conducted to demonstrate the relationships between these measures. The aim of this study was to identify the overall relationships among speech intelligibility, chewing ability, and depression in accordance with orofacial functions in the elderly.
Methods
Twenty-one healthy older adults (10 males; 11 females) participated in this study. The functions of lip, cheek, tongue, and soft palate, as well as chewing ability including regularity, frequency, duration and velocity measures, speech intelligibility and depression by Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form were measured.
Results
Most participants had normal orofacial functions, speech intelligibility, chewing ability and no signs of depression. Tongue strength was significantly correlated with range and velocity of the tongue movement and puffed cheek. Lip closure was not significantly related to other orofacial functions. The puffed cheek was significantly correlated with age. Speech intelligibility and chewing regularity had similar relationships and regression analysis results with orofacial functions. The velocity of the tongue movement was the only measure that correlated with and explained depression.
Conclusion
Because speech and chewing share similar anatomical structures and overlapping neurophysiology, speech intelligibility and chewing had similar relationships with orofacial functions. Reduced speech and chewing ability can limit social activity and participation, which may eventually cause depression in older adults. Further research is necessary to explore the relationships between various variables affected by aging to better understand the older population. |
| Keywords:
Aging | Speech intelligibility | Chewing | Depression | Relationship |
|
|
|
PDF Links
Full text via DOI
Download Citation 
Supplement
