Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
Published on: December 1, 2023
Perceptual voice characteristics in pediatric unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Rahul K Shah1, Geralyn Harvey-Woodnorth, Amy Glynn
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communication Disorders, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Objective:
To describe the voice characteristics of pediatric unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP).
Study Design And Setting:
Retrospective series from a children's hospital, 1996 to present.
Results:
Forty-two patients with a mean age of 7.1 years were diagnosed with UVFP in our voice clinic (prevalence = 5.4%). Paralysis was left sided in 88%, and was most commonly seen after cardiac surgery (28.5%) and prolonged intubation/prematurity (16.7%). Voice analysis showed a moderate degree of breathiness, mild-to-moderate hoarseness and straining, mild muscle tension, and soft loudness. Twenty-six percent of patients required surgical intervention, including injection into the paralyzed fold (7 patients) and medialization thyroplasty (4 patients). Pre-operatively, breathiness was worse (P < .05) in patients undergoing surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
Voice characteristics of pediatric UVFP include increased breathiness, hoarseness, straining, muscle tension, and soft loudness. One-fourth of patients underwent surgical intervention; breathiness was the predominant abnormal voice characteristic in the operative cohort.
Significance:
The voice characteristics of pediatric patients with UVFP are described.
Ebm Rating:
C-4.
Related Concept Videos
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding II: Palpation and Auscultation
Palpation Findings
During a respiratory assessment, palpation can reveal several vital abnormalities:
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract IV: Auscultation
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Palpation
Thoracic Palpation
Thoracic palpation detects tenderness, masses, lesions, respiratory excursions, and vocal fremitus. The nurse assesses...
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding I: Inspection and Percussion
Inspection Findings
During an inspection, several findings may suggest the presence of respiratory distress or disease. Pursed-lip breathing, where exhalation is slowed by...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract III: Percussion
Percussion in Respiratory Assessment
Percussion evaluates underlying tissue composition with audible and tactile vibrations,...
