Effect of Partial Deafness on Voice in Children

Elevated hearing thresholds cause disturbances in auditory control of voice. This leads to voice disorders that are described by changes in acoustic parameters of voice measured objectively. Voice changes can also be detected by perceptive assessment with GRBAS scale. This article presents the results of the study performed to analyze voice characteristics in a group of children with prelingual partial deafness (PD), a condition with normal hearing at low frequencies and deep hypoacusis (near deafness) at high frequencies. Voice disorders accompanying PD were not a subject of the intensive study before, therefore our study provides valuable data and help to understand more complex clinical aspects of PD. The study showed that voice characteristics in children with PD differs from children with normal hearing and shows some differences compared to voice of children with other types of hearing impairment. Major changes in PD are seen in frequency (F0, vF0), amplitude (vAm, sAPQ), noise (NHR), and tremor (FTRI) parameters. The changes were present in all groups of objective measures, which makes a difference versus normal hearing; however, the most significant changes were seen in a narrower range of parameters compared to children in other types of hearing impairment. Objective parameters correlate with the subjective features of voice of children with PD. With use of GRBAS scale, subjective voice assessment showed elevated indices of grade, roughness, breathy, asthenic, and strained voice, which described slightly harsh, breathy, dull, and a little tensed voice.