Aging and sex effects on mastication performance in healthy, nondysphagic, community-dwelling adults

Erin M. Milford, Bin Wang, Kimberly Smith, Dahye Choi, Bonnie Martin-Harris, Kendrea L. Garand*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of age and sex on mastication performance in healthy, nondysphagic, community-dwelling adults as observed during videofluoroscopy. Method: Videofluoroscopic swallowing study imaging and mastication performance metrics (cycles, duration) were used to evaluate 185 healthy individuals (102 women, 83 men) aged 21–89 years. Results: A significant effect of age on mastication cycles was not observed; however, a significant but weak effect of age on mastication duration was found. Female participants were observed to have significantly more mastication cycles and longer mastication durations compared to male participants. Three behavioral patterns of mastication performance emerged. Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to normative data of mastication performance. An individual’s sex was found to have a significant effect on mastication performance, although, in contrast to previous studies, age was not observed to significantly alter mastication performance. Differences in study methodologies likely explain the latter finding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)705-713
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican journal of speech-language pathology
Volume29
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Speech and Hearing
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Linguistics and Language

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