Sound spectrographic cry analysis of infants with hydrocephalus

Altogether 248 cries from 62 infants with hydrocephalus were analysed by sound spectrography: 92 cries from infants with congenital hydrocephalus and 52 cries from each of the groups with cerebral malformations, hydrocephalus as sequelae of meningitis, and after closure of a meningomyelocele. The cries were compared with 104 cries of normal healthy infants of corresponding age. The cry analysis showed that the most abnormal cries were seen in infants with congenital hydrocephalus and cerebral malformations. The pitch of the fundamental frequency did not differ from normal crying in cries of infants collected after recovery from meningitis and after closure of a meningomyelocele. The cries in hydrocephalus after meningitis showed more commonly flat melody types and the occurrence of bi-phonation.