Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
Establishment of a normative pediatric acoustic database
Insights
This study created the largest English-language pediatric voice database, revealing distinct vocal profiles and key developmental changes in children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Speech Science
- Voice Acoustics
Background:
- Establishing normative pediatric voice data is crucial for understanding vocal development.
- Existing databases often lack comprehensive acoustic analysis for diverse age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a normative pediatric acoustic database for children aged 4-18 years.
- To analyze acoustic characteristics and identify sex- and age-specific vocal changes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective collection of acoustic parameters from 335 healthy children (165 girls, 170 boys).
- Utilized computerized voice analysis in a pediatric otolaryngology clinic setting.
Main Results:
- Identified discrete fundamental frequency changes at specific ages in girls (11, 14) and boys (12, 16).
- Jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio values were within adult normative thresholds.
- Established distinct vocal profiles for boys and girls, with significant differences in fundamental frequency.
Conclusions:
- This is the largest pediatric computerized voice analysis database in English.
- The database enables age- and sex-based growth charts for tracking pediatric voice maturation.
- Findings support future voice therapy, phonosurgical strategies, and research on pediatric voice development.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES To establish a normative pediatric acoustic database and to analyze the acoustic characteristics of the age groups studied. DESIGN Prospective gathering of acoustic parameters on healthy children aged 4 to 18 years. SETTING An outpatient pediatric otolaryngology clinic. PATIENTS A total of 335 children (165 girls and 170 boys) were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Normative values were obtained for the acoustic parameters studied. RESULTS Discrete fundamental frequency changes occurred at ages 11 and 14 years in girls and ages 12 and 16 years in boys. Values for jitter percentage, shimmer percentage, and noise to harmonic ratio fell within the normative thresholds of adult values. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest pediatric computerized voice analysis database in the English language. This database has been designed to develop an age- and sex-based growth chart to track the developing pediatric voice as it changes with maturation. A distinct vocal profile of girls and boys is evident, with key changes noted at critical periods of development and with significant differences among fundamental frequency between and within sexes. A comprehensive database can be used to help aid future voice therapy and phonosurgical strategies and provide the foundation for future studies into the development of the pediatric voice as it matures into adulthood.
