Pediatric Dysphonia and the Access to Voice Therapy: A Study in Speech-Language Patology Services Available in a Capital City in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

Objectives

Describe the vocal fold alteration and dysphonia in the pediatric group studied in private speech-language pathology facilities, and estimating the time period between the problem being identified by the parents and the access to the proper provided services.

Method

Analytical cross-sectional survey study with data collected from medical records by the speech-language pathology of each private facility. A written form was prepared and sent to the speech-language pathology of the 40 existing facilities. We received 124 of them from the pediatric group being assisted in 15 of the facilities. The form included questions about sex, age, vocal complaints; general severity of dysphonia; otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of vocal fold alteration the age that the problem was identified by the parents, and the beginning of voice therapy. All of them were examined by GRBAS, 37 boys and 30 girls by videonasopharyngolaryngoscopy.

Results

The time period between the identification of the participant's dysphonia by the parents and the start of voice therapy was considered long (3.5 years). The group showed variance in the proportion of nodules and cyst between sexs. The highest prevalence of nodules occurred in boys; and the cyst in girls. General moderate of dysphonia occurred between 4 and 17 years old, average age of 7 years and 7 months, with greater distribution between 5 and 10 years of age.

Conclusion

The average time delay until the start of voice therapy was 3.5 years, more frequently in the 5...10 years group and due to nodules in boys and cysts in girls.