According to survey findings published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery on Thursday, 6.7 percent of American children currently suffer from voice disorders, and 12 percent have had voice problems sometime in their life. The authors defined voice problems as abnormal vocal behaviors, such as impaired singing and speaking at school, and abnormal voice quality, including hoarseness.
Benign vocal fold lesions are noncancerous but abnormal tissue growths on vocal cords. These growths can occur due to vocal overuse and abuse, such as frequent talking, yelling, coughing, tantrums, straining the voice, or repeatedly clearing the throat. While some benign vocal fold lesions are transient, vocal cord scarring is permanent and can cause lasting changes to a person’s voice.
“The results of this survey suggest that pediatric voice problems are relatively common and detract from quality of life,” the authors wrote. The survey also asked about a child’s vocal symptoms and the history of these issues. Among the respondents, 78 had children with current voice problems, and 138 had children who had had voice problems at some point.
Of the parents reporting voice problems in their children, nearly 60 percent said the problem began before the child turned 2, and in around 80 percent of the cases, the problem came on gradually. Having voice problems was associated with poorer quality of life. The research team noted that male children and individuals living in homes with four or.
