Acoustic Analysis in Children with Chronic Habitual Childhood Dysphonia with and without ADHD Symptoms

Abd El Wahab, Marowa; Zaki, Effat Ahmed; Osman, Shimaa; Khalaf, Zienab

doi:10.21608/mjmr.2025.394315.1991

Acoustic Analysis in Children with Chronic Habitual Childhood Dysphonia with and without ADHD Symptoms

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Phoniatrics Unit, ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

² Phoniatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

³ phoniatric unit , ENT department, faculty of medicin Minia University, Minia , Egypt.

10.21608/mjmr.2025.394315.1991

Abstract

Background: A study comparing the acoustic parameters of children with chronic habitual childhood dysphonia (scremmer’s nodules) with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and aims to determine how ADHD symptoms relate to children's voice abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to assess acoustic analysis in children with and without ADHD who have scremmer’s nodules.

Methods: One hundred children of both sexes, ages five to fifteen, who had been diagnosed with chronic habitual childhood dysphonia (screamer's nodules) and who had vocal abnormalities were included in this observational-cross-sectional study. The DSM V criteria were used to categorize the patients into two groups, which were confirmed by Conner's Parent Rating Scale test results: non-ADHD (n=62) and ADHD (n=38).

Results: The ADHD and non-ADHD groups showed no significant differences in age, sex, education, hyperacidity/reflux history, URTI history, or medication use (P > 0.05). Vocal demand was significantly higher in one group (P < 0.05), and temperament showed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). Acoustic analysis revealed significant differences in mean pitch (P < 0.05) and highly significant differences in jitter (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: In contrast to youngsters devoid of ADHD, children with ADHD exhibit more vocal hyperfunction. The findings of this study may be useful in developing vocal education and hygiene-focused programs that support the vocal health of kids with ADHD.

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