Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on Voice in Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition in children.
• The impact of AR on voice quality in pediatric populations is not fully understood.
• Voice disorders in children can affect quality of life and communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of allergic rhinitis (AR) on voice parameters in children.
• To compare acoustic and aerodynamic voice analyses between children with and without AR.
• To assess voice-related quality of life using the Turkish Children's Voice Handicap Index-10 (TR-CVHI-10).

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 41 children with AR and 39 healthy controls.
• Acoustic voice analysis (fundamental frequency [f0], jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio [HNR]).
• Aerodynamic analysis (maximum phonation time [MPT], s/z ratio) and TR-CVHI-10 completion.

Main Results:

• Children with AR had significantly higher TR-CVHI-10 scores, indicating a greater voice handicap.
• The fundamental frequency (f0) was significantly lower in children with AR compared to controls.
• No significant differences were found in jitter, shimmer, HNR, MPT, or s/z ratio between groups.

Conclusions:

• Allergic rhinitis affects fundamental frequency and voice quality in children.
• AR should be considered as a potential contributing factor in the diagnosis of pediatric voice disorders.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking AR and voice changes.