title: Effects of age, sex, and disorder on voice range profile characteristics of 230 children.
abstract: In this study, the effect of age, sex, and disorder on the vocal performance of 230 children 6 to 11 years of age was investigated by means of the voice range profile (VRP). Ninety-four control children and 136 children with disorders were studied. The VRPs were quantitatively described by frequency and intensity characteristics, as well as by morphological characteristics. Significant differences between healthy children and children with disorders were found. Age has a different effect in girls than in boys regarding vocal performance. Most of the characteristics for the healthy girls change gradually over the period from 6 to 11 years. For the healthy boys, however, two age groups can be identified: one below and one above 8 years of age. It is hypothesized that the androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate may play a role in this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Disorders, University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. floris.wuyts@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Floris L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wuyts
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heylen
authors.forename: Fons
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Du Caju
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rooman
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Van de Heyning
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bodt
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014833:Voice Quality
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone