Vocal Quality, Articulation and Audiological Characteristics of Children and Young Adults with Diagnosed Allergies

Abstract

This study details vocal quality, articulation errors, and hearing disorders in 80 children and young adults with diagnosed allergies. Results indicated that almost 50% had abnormalities in vocal quality and/or articulation and 13% had reduced auditory acuity. Vocal quality disorders showed a significant relationship to bronchial asthma in association with other allergic reactions. All subjects with diminished hearing had allergic rhinitis either singly or in combination with another disorder. Findings suggest that bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are related to the development of vocal quality disorders and that allergic rhinitis is associated with misarticulations and diminished hearing. The presence of speech sound omissions in allergic rhinitis patients above age 8 may predict the presence or previous history of fluctuating hearing loss.

Provoked Laryngeal Dysfunction

“…The symptoms and signs of provoked change in vocal functioning were breathy voice quality, perceptually decreased inten sity of the voice and the failure of the glottis to close completely. The results were in ac cordance with observations that low vocal intensity and breathiness may be associated with respiratory allergies [Maximov and Moskov, 1981;Baker et al" 1982], Allergic edema formation and an increase in the volume of the vocal cords were not distinctly observed in this study, but a very low increase may escape notice in a mirror examination [Sonninen. personal commun., 1983], Slight dysphonia due to a slight in crease in vocal cord volume may not even affect the auditory impression, although it can be observed in a spectral analysis [Son ninen and Hurme, 1981], The significant skin test positivity of the clinical group indicates atopy.…”

Reliability of perceptions of voice quality: evidence from a problem asthma clinic population

“…19,21 Inhaled asthma medication has the potential to directly affect the larynx, and therefore asthma, or its treatment, may have a direct effect on patients' voices. Up to 50 per cent of patients taking inhaled corticosteroids may suffer from dysphonia 28 which is usually reversible. 29 This has been attributed to fungal infection or steroid-induced adductor myasthenia of the larynx, 30 although laryngoscopy or voice laboratory assessment may reveal more complicated abnormalities such as apposition abnormalities and cycle to cycle irregularity.…”

Perceived vocal morbidity in a problem asthma clinic

“…Much of the voice literature is focused on those patients who attend otolaryngology clinics; however, Baker et al found that 50 per cent of 80 young adults with asthma or allergy had vocal quality abnormalities (as assessed by speech and language therapists). 6 Voice morbidity in patients with asthma has not been extensively studied.…”