The Accuracy of Respiratory Calibration Methods for Estimating Lung Volume During Speech Breathing: A Comparison of Four Methods Across Three Adult Cohorts.

Purpose This study evaluated the accuracy of respiratory calibration methods for estimating lung volume during speech breathing. Method Respiratory kinematic data were acquired via inductance plethysmography in 32 young adults, 22 older adults, and 13 older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). Raw rib cage (RC) and abdomen (AB) signals (V) were calibrated to liters using 4 correction methods: (a) isovolume maneuvers, (b) a constant 2:1 RC-to-AB ratio, (c) least squares method with RC correction only (LsqRC), and (d) least squares method with both RC and AB corrections (LsqRC/AB). Mean percent error, the absolute difference between estimated and actual lung volumes then normalized to each speaker's vital capacity, was calculated for each method. Results For young adults, the LsqRC/AB method significantly reduced mean percent error compared to all other methods. Although LsqRC/AB also resulted in smaller errors for older adults and adults with PD, LsqRC/AB and LsqRC were not significantly different from one another in these groups. Conclusion The LsqRC/AB method reduces errors across all cohorts, but older adults and adults with PD also have reduced errors when using LsqRC. Further research should investigate both least squares methods across larger age and disease severity ranges.