Speaking-related dyspnea in healthy adults.

Purpose: To reveal the qualities and intensity of speaking-related dyspnea in healthy adults under conditions of high ventilatory drive, in which the behavioral and metabolic control of breathing must compete.

Method: Eleven adults read aloud while breathing different levels of inspired carbon dioxide (CO(2)). After the highest level, participants provided unguided descriptions of their experiences and then selected descriptors from a list.