Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that causes extreme dryness, or sicca,of the eyes and mouth, as well as other potential drying of the throat and intestines. Speech, voice, and swallowing problems are common in individuals with SS. Therefore, this study examined the possible changes in acoustic characteristics of monophthongs (/i, æ, α, u, ʌ/) in eight females with SS following laryngeal hydration treatments. An ABAB experimental design was implemented. Treatment consisted of nebulized isotonic saline immediately following completion of audio-recordings. Using acoustic analysis software the duration, formant frequencies, and vowel space area (VSA) was calculated for the participant's vowel productions. Overall the mean duration of the participant's vowel productions increased slightly from baseline measurements through the last treatment phase. Minimal deviations were observed in first and second formant frequency values throughout the study. Only minor differences were found in the participant's VSA from baseline phase of data collection through the final treatment phase, with most of these differences due to a change in the first formant of the /æ/ vowel. Despite the need for future research, the findings of this study increase understanding into how SS impacts speech production.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and quantify the effects of a nebulized saline treatment on speech production in eight females with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS). The duration, formant frequency onset and offset, and slope were measured to determine the quality of participants' production of diphthongal American English vowels. Acoustic data were examined before treatment began, immediately following treatment, and during a one-week follow-up to determine the effects of a laryngeal hydration program that used nebulized saline to increase hydration of structures in the vocal tract. The vowels produced during the initial baseline condition were acoustically relatively similar to the productions of typical speakers not diagnosed with SS. Although some differences in mean vowel duration and formant frequency values were found in the recorded vowel productions, results indicated that the participants' vowel productions remained relatively stable across the different phases of treatment. The absence of large treatment effects, in terms of vowel acoustics, may be due to the possibility that although the dryness associated with SS is an irratant for speakers, it may not affect their ability to produce diphthongal vowels in a significant manner.