The Respirometer as a Diagnostic and Clinical Tool in the Speech Clinic

Abstract

Many extremely valuable respiratory air volume and airflow measures can be made with a high degree of validity and reliability using present day conventional respirometers within the speech clinic. Several specific measures derived from recent studies of vital capacity and phonatory airflow can be applied to patients referred to the speech clinic for problems involving respiration or voice. Normative data derived from previous research studies help to confirm clinical impressions concerning pathology. Such data also help the clinician to evaluate the results of ongoing therapy. The respirometer is an economical device for gathering such data; it is capable of measuring not only static vital capacity, but also sustained timed phonations. Respirometric measurements can be used as a part of the diagnostic and prognostic armamentarium.