A study investigated differences between older adult male and female voice patterns. In addition, the study examined whether certain differences between male and female speech characteristics were lifelong and not associated with the aging process. Subjects were 10 young (average age 30) and 10 old (average age 75) males and 10 young (average age 29) and 10 old (average age 74) females. Each subject completed a series of speech tasks that were audiotaped and analyzed for the following characteristics: hypovalving, hypervalving, vocal tremor, imprecise articulation, loudness, nasality, speech rate, articulation rate, pitch and pitch variability. Results showed significant differences between older male and female voices that do not occur in young males and females. Specifically, greater vocal tremor, softer volume, and increased hypervalving differentiated the older females, while increased imprecision of articulation and expenditure of air in speech tasks differentiated the older male speakers. (FL)