title: Epidemiological study of dysphonia in 4-12 year-old children.
abstract: Children dysphonia studies have reported an incidence of 4.4 to 30.3%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the prevalence of dysphonia in children, based on the opinion of the parents, acoustic and vocal-perceptual assessments, associated symptoms, risk factors and videolaryngoscopy findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The parents from 2,000 children answered a questionnaire about the vocal quality of their children, and these children were submitted to perceptual vocal, acoustic and videolaryngoscopy assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We had 1,007 boys and 993 girls; sporadic symptoms were reported by 206 parents and permanent symptoms were reported by 123. In the perceptual assessment, the G parameter (degree of dysphonia) had a score of 0 in 694 voices; 1 in 1,065 and 2 in 228. There was f0 reduction with age and the remaining acoustic parameters were high in children with a G score of 2. Nodules, thickening and inflammation were the most common in the videolaryngoscopy exams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental judgment indicated a prevalence of dysphonia in 6.15%, and perceptual analysis yielded a value of 11.4%. Vocal symptoms were associated with a phonatory overload. sinonasal disorders, vocal abuse and noise were considered relevant risk factors. The acoustic analysis kept a direct association with the perceptual-auditory. Laryngeal lesions were found in the videolaryngoscopy exams, stressing nodules, thickening and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade de São Paulo, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Elaine Lara Mendes
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Alcione
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brasolotto
authors.forename: Marcela Ferreira
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Padovan
authors.forename: Regina Helena Garcia
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality