title: The impact of pregnancy on nasal resonance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the possible impact of hormonal changes on nasal resonance during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2013 and June 2013, a total of 101 pregnant women (mean age 27.1±5.8 years; range 18 to 41 years) visiting obstetric clinics for routine antenatal checkups were included in the study. The control group was consisted of 99 patients (mean age 29.2±6.6 years; range 18 to 42 years) without any nasal complaints. Nasal symptoms were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale. Nasalance scores were calculated by nasometry. The results were compared between study and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean nasalance score in pregnant women (40.4±7.8) were statistically significantly lower than the control group (44.7±6.4) (p<0.001). The nasalance score was 43.2±7.0 for the first trimester, 41.1±6.6 for the second trimester, and 39.2±8.8 for the third trimester. There was no statistically significant difference in nasalance scores within three trimesters. The mean nasalance scores of the second and third trimesters were statistically significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). The NOSE scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the third trimester (2.9±2.6) than the second trimester (1.1±1.9) (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that nasalance scores fall in pregnancy, leading to the development of hyponasal voice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, 06340 Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey. suledemirci1@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Şule
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tüzüner
authors.forename: Zahide
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Küçük
authors.forename: Cemile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Açıkgöz
authors.forename: Necmi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Ethem Erdal
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Samim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult