Establishment of a Normative Pediatric Acoustic Database

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To establish a normative pediatric acoustic database and to analyze the acoustic characteristics of the age groups studied. DESIGN Prospective gathering of acoustic parameters on healthy children aged 4 to 18 years. SETTING An outpatient pediatric otolaryngology clinic. PATIENTS A total of 335 children (165 girls and 170 boys) were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Normative values were obtained for the acoustic parameters studied. RESULTS Discrete fundamental frequency changes occurred at ages 11 and 14 years in girls and ages 12 and 16 years in boys. Values for jitter percentage, shimmer percentage, and noise to harmonic ratio fell within the normative thresholds of adult values. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest pediatric computerized voice analysis database in the English language. This database has been designed to develop an age- and sex-based growth chart to track the developing pediatric voice as it changes with maturation. A distinct vocal profile of girls and boys is evident, with key changes noted at critical periods of development and with significant differences among fundamental frequency between and within sexes. A comprehensive database can be used to help aid future voice therapy and phonosurgical strategies and provide the foundation for future studies into the development of the pediatric voice as it matures into adulthood.