Nasalance Scores in Lebanese English-speaking Adults Using Nasometric Analysis.

OBJECTIVE To obtain normative data for nasalance scores in Middle Eastern English-speaking adult population. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 102 subjects were recruited in the study, 26 were excluded, thus, 77 Middle Eastern English-speaking adults (mean age = 23.77 ± 4.295; 39 males, 38 females) with normal speech and no hearing problems participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS Using Nasometer II 6450, nasalance scores were obtained for each participant's readings of 3 passages: Zoo and Rainbow passages and nasal sentences. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean nasalance score, standard deviation and range. RESULTS Mean nasalance scores for Zoo passage, Rainbow passage and nasal sentences were 25.21 ± 11.07, 34.04 ± 9.30 and 41.29 ± 9.87 respectively. Mean scores didn't differ significantly between males and females, though scores for the Zoo passage were slightly higher among males (26.51 ± 11.66) than females (23.87 ± 10.42). In within-session reliability testing, 86% of retests for all three passages fell within 5 nasalance points of the previous test. In across-session reliability testing, 93% of retests for all 3 passages were within 5 points of initial test. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study provides normative data for nasalance scores among Middle-Eastern adults, which can help make nasometer and determination of nasalance more clinically useful in this population.