Objective and Subjective Aspects of Voice in Pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate vocal changes in pregnancy according to trimesters both objectively and subjectively.


METHODS
Fifty pregnant women and 15 nonpregnant women were included in the study. Eighteen of the 50 pregnant women were in the first trimester, 17 in the second trimester, and 15 in the third trimester of their pregnancies. The fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), and minimum and maximum pitch were determined during acoustic voice analysis. Laryngologic examination was evaluated via reflux finding score (RFS). Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI-10) was used for subjective analysis.


RESULTS
Maximum phonation time (MPT), VHI-10, and RFS were the parameters that differed significantly. MPT was significantly shorter in the third trimester. Acoustic analysis revealed that F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR, and minimum and maximum pitch values were not significantly different in any groups. RFS was higher in the first and third trimesters than the second trimester and control groups. VHI-10 scores were significantly higher in the third trimester.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that MPT is decreased during the third trimester, although acoustic parameters did not differ. VHI-10 results deteriorated in the third trimester significantly.
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ziyasalturk@gmail.com.
Ziya
Z
Saltürk
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Tolgar Lütfi
TL
Kumral
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Güler
G
Bekiten
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Yavuz
Y
Atar
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Enes
E
Ataç
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
İmran
İ
Aydoğdu
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Güven
G
Yıldırım
Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aydın
A
Kılıç
Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Yavuz
Y
Uyar
D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D010699:Phonation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
Acoustic analysis; Aerodynamic; Pregnancy; Quality of life; Voice; Voice Handicap Index