Voice parameters in children with down syndrome

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Carla Pinto Moura (Author) FMUP; Luis Miguel Cunha (Author) FCUP; Helena Vilarinho (Author) Other; Maria Joao Cunha (Author) Other; Diamantino Freitas (Author) FEUP; Miguel Palha (Author) Other; Siegfried M Pueschel (Author) Other; Pais Clemente, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Voice

Vol. 22

Pages: 34-42

ISSN: 0892-1997

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 49 Citations

Scopus - 57 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-40G

DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2006.08.011

Abstract (EN): Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent chromosomal disorder. Commonly, individuals with DS have difficulties with speech and show an unusual quality in the voice. Their phenotypic characteristics include general hypotonia and maxillary hypoplasia with relative macroglossia, and these contribute to particular acoustic alterations. Subjective perceptual and acoustic assessments of the voice (Praat-4.1 software) were performed in 66 children with DS, 36 boys and 30 girls, aged 3 to 8 years. These data were compared with those of an age-matched group of children from the general population. Perceptual evaluations showed significant differences in the group of children with DS. The voice of children with DS presented a lower fundamental frequency (F(0)) with elevated dispersion. The conjunction of frequencies for formants (F(1) and F(2)) revealed a decreased distinction between the vowels, reflecting the loss of articulatory processing. The DS vocalic anatomical functional ratio represents the main distinctive parameter between the two groups studied, and it may be useful in conducting assessments.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9