THE TUSSOMETER - ACCURACY AND REPRODUCIBILITY

Tussometry is a new non-invasive technique for objectively assessing l aryngeal function by analysis of the airflow waveform produced by a ma ximum effort voluntary cough manoeuvre. We describe the technique and present She calibration data. The tussometer has been calibrated for f lows of up to 1100 litre min(-1) using a flowmeter with a quoted accur acy of +/- 1.75%. The variables measured (cough peak flow rate (CPFR) and peak velocity time (PVT)) were found to be reproducible; the withi n-subject variability for CPFR was found so be 23.9% and for PVT 9%. T here was no inter-observer variation. We found that the size of the ma sk used did not influence the readings obtained, providing an adequate seal was achieved.