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Correlation of vocal fold nodule size in children and perceptual assessment of voice quality

Roger C Nuss1, Jessica Ward, Lin Huang

  • 1Dept of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|November 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric vocal fold nodule size significantly impacts voice quality. Larger nodules correlate with increased severity, roughness, strain, and pitch issues in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Voice Science

Background:

  • Vocal fold nodules are common in children, affecting voice quality.
  • Understanding the relationship between nodule size and perceptual voice characteristics is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between pediatric vocal fold nodule size and auditory-perceptual voice quality ratings.
  • To determine if nodule size predicts specific voice disturbances in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 145 children diagnosed with vocal fold nodules.
  • Vocal fold nodule size assessed using a validated scale.
  • Voice quality evaluated using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) scale.

Main Results:

  • A significant relationship (p < 0.05) was found between nodule size and voice disturbance severity, roughness, strain, pitch, and loudness.
  • Increased nodule size correlated with higher perceptual scores for most voice qualities.
  • Patient age was also a significant factor in overall severity and roughness.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric vocal fold nodule size is strongly correlated with the severity of voice disturbance and perceptual voice qualities.
  • Findings suggest a potential causal link between nodule size and voice impairment in children.
  • Nodule size is an important clinical indicator for voice problems in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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