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Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Investigating the Three-dimensional Flow Separation Induced by a Model Vocal Fold Polyp
Published on: February 3, 2014
Self-regulation in children with vocal fold nodules: A multilevel analysis
Jeong Min Lee1, Nelson Roy1, Albert Park2
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
Introduction:
Vocal fold nodules (VNs) represent the most common cause of voice disorders in children. Phonotrauma related to chronic, repetitive, intense vocal activity is often cited as the proximate cause of VNs. However, diminished self-regulation (SR) may predispose some children toward extreme phonotraumatic voice use, thereby contributing secondarily to their development. This case-control study examined the association between features of SR and VNs in children.
Method:
Parents of children with VNs (N = 40, Age Mean = 7.5, SD = 2.03 years) and vocally normal, medical controls (VNCs; N = 40, Age Mean = 7.6, SD = 1.54 years) completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF2; Gioia, Isquith, Guy & Kenworthy, 2015), an inventory that evaluates components of SR in children.
Results:
Children with VNs, as compared with the vocally normal control group, were described as (i) impulsive (i.e., scoring significantly worse on the Behavior Regulation Index, BRI; P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.86), and (ii) emotionally dysregulated (i.e., scoring significantly worse on the Emotional Regulation Index, ERI; P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.81).
Conclusions:
Diminished SR in some children with VNs may contribute to phonotraumatic vocal behaviors and potentially attenuate the effectiveness of voice therapy.
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