Updated Acoustic Normative Data through the Lifespan: A Scoping Review

Objective: To assess the recent literature for voice acoustic data values reported for individuals without voice disorder through the lifespan as a means to develop an updated normative acoustic data resource for children and adults.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. English language, full-text publications were identified through Medline (EBSCO & OVID), PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Theses and Dissertations Global.

Results: A total of 903 sources were retrieved; of these 510 were duplicates. Abstracts of 393 were screened, with 68 full-text review. From the eligible studies, citation review yielded 51 additional resources. Twenty-eight sources were included for data extraction. For the normative acoustic data extracted for males and females across the lifespan, lower fundamental frequency for adult females was observed and few studies collected semitone range, sound level range, or frequency range. Data extraction also indicated a predominately gender binary reporting of acoustic measures with few studies reporting gender identity, race, or ethnicity as variables of interest.

Conclusions: The scoping review yielded updated acoustic normative data that is of value for clinicians and researchers who rely on this normative data to make determinations about vocal function. The limited availability of acoustic data by gender, race, and ethnicity creates barriers for generalization of these normative values across all patients, clients, and research volunteers.