| Sumario: | This study sought to describe speaking fundamental frequency characteristics of elderly Euro-American and African-American individuals and to explore the effects of ethnicity and ageing on vocal parameters of speech production. Speech samples from 42 elderly Euro-American and 37 elderly African-American individuals (age range: 70-80 years) were compared on measures of mean speaking fundamental frequency (F[o]), maximum and minimum speaking F[o], speaking F[o] standard deviation (F[o] SD), and speaking F[o] range (in semitones). Elderly African-American females had significantly lower mean speaking F[o] and speaking F[o] SD than their Euro-American cohorts. Results indicate that researchers need to improve the clinical database for speakers from non-Euro-American backgrounds, and speech-language pathologists must exercise discretion when assessing the speaking F[o] and other speech characteristics of elderly individuals from different ethnic groups.
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