OBJECTIVES: to compare phono-articulatory characteristics between women in reproductive age and postmenopause women. METHODS: acoustic variations in vocal intonation, speed of the speech and the pause pattern were measured. Fourty five reproductive age women with regular menstrual cycles and taking no hormonal contraceptives and 45 postmenopause women receiving no hormonal replacement therapy for at least three years were interviewed and their verbal productions were recorded. Acoustic analyses were performed using the Kay Elemetrics Motor Speech Profile. Student's t test was employed to compare data between the two groups when they presented normal distribution, and Mann-Whitney test when they were asymmetrical. RESULTS: the reduction on the rhythm and phonoarticulatory speed was more constant in the postmenopause group. CONCLUSIONS: a better understanding in this field will make possible to elaborate strategies to offer a better life quality for postmenopausal women, in special for those who use their voice professionally.
Voice; Postmenopause; Speech acoustics
