title: Perceptual and acoustic parameters of vocal nodules in children.
abstract: Vocal nodules constitute the major cause of dysphonia during childhood. Auditory-perceptual and acoustic vocal analyses have been used to differentiate vocal nodules from normal voice in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the value of auditory-perceptual and acoustic vocal analyses in assessments of children with nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic test study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative study was carried out including 100 children with videolaryngoscopic diagnosis of vocal nodules (nodule group-NG); and 100 children without vocal symptoms and with normal videolaryngoscopic exams (control group-CG). The age range of both groups was between 4 and 11 years. All children underwent auditory-perceptual vocal analyses (GRBASI scale); maximum phonation time and s/z ratio were calculated, and acoustic vocal analysis (MDVP software) were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the values of maximum phonation time and s/z ratio between groups. Auditory-perceptual analysis indicated greater compromising of voice parameters for NG, compared to CG: G (79 versus 24), R (53 versus 3), B (67 versus 23) and S (35 versus 1). The values of acoustic parameters jitter, PPQ, shimmer, APQ, NHR and SPI were higher for NG for CG. The parameter f0 did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compromising of auditory-perceptual (G, R, B and S) and acoustic vocal parameters (jitter, PPQ, shimmer, APQ, NHR and SPI) was greater for children with nodules than for those of the control group, which makes them important methods for assessing child dysphonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréa Cristina Joia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gramuglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine L M
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Augusto
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: rmartins@fmb.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Regina H G
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D008297:Male; D013061:Speech Acoustics
keywords: Acoustic vocal analysis.; Auditory-perceptual vocal analysis; Child; Dysphonia; Hoarseness; Nodules