Cry analysis in infants resuscitated for apnea of infancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the acoustic features of crying demonstrated by infants who experienced apnea of infancy (AOI) and compare these features to a non-AOI group of infants. Based on past physiological descriptions of AOI, three predictions in regard to the influence of AOI on acoustic cry features were proposed: (1) the rate of crying would be significantly faster among infants with AOI, (2) the latency of crying onset would be significantly longer among infants with AOI and (3) the F(0) characterizing an overall episode of crying would be significantly lower among infants with AOI.


METHODS
Pain-induced crying episodes were collected from a group of healthy term infants (HT) and those with AOI. One complete crying episode was obtained from each infant and analyzed acoustically with regard to durational and spectral features of the cry.


RESULTS
Infants comprising the AOI group were found to demonstrate a significantly longer cry latency and lower F(0) compared to HT infants.


CONCLUSIONS
The acoustic cry features measured for the AOI infants are discussed with regard to past reports of poor arousal and decreased muscle tone. A model of AOI crying is proposed whereby the autonomic nervous system and associated pathways are slower to interpret pain stimulus compared to HT infants.
Robb
Michael P
MP
Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. michael.robb@canterbury.ac.nz
Crowell
David H
DH
Dunn-Rankin
Peter
P
D001049:Apnea / Q000628:therapy*; D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology*; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome