Vocal characteristics in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Area of Science:

• Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Pediatric Psychology

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children.
• Vocal characteristics can be altered in various neurological and psychological conditions.
• Limited research exists on the specific vocal profiles of children with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare vocal perceptual and acoustic parameters in children with ADHD and typically developing controls.
• To identify specific vocal deviations associated with ADHD in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 19 children diagnosed with ADHD and 19 age- and sex-matched controls participated.
• Vocal perceptual evaluation assessed hoarseness, breathiness, strain, and loudness (0-3 scale).
• Acoustic analysis measured Fundamental Frequency, Shimmer, Relative Average Perturbation, Noise-to-Harmony Ratio, Voice Turbulence Index, and Habitual Pitch.

Main Results:

• Children with ADHD demonstrated significantly higher perceptual ratings for hoarseness, breathiness, and strain.
• ADHD group exhibited significantly increased vocal loudness compared to controls.
• The only significant acoustic finding was a lower Fundamental Frequency in the ADHD group.

Conclusions:

• Vocal behavior in children with ADHD differs significantly from their neurotypical peers.
• Perceptual voice quality and loudness are key indicators of vocal differences in ADHD.
• Early recognition of these vocal patterns may aid in the comprehensive management of ADHD.