Acoustic analysis of cry in with cleft palate patients.

Introduction: Crying in newborns and infants is a functional expression of biological interest. Through, acoustic analysis of crying, results of a primary palatoplasty can be evaluated in patients with cleft palate before development of speech, is objective, non-invasive, quick and simple tool for vocal exploration. The objective is to determine Fundamental Frequency (F0) of spontaneous crying in patients with pre and postoperative cleft palate, and compare with healthy control group through PRAAT software, in period between 2017 and 2019. Materials and methods: A sample of 16 patients from 18 to 30 months of age with cleft palate was obtained. Recordings were made of spontaneous pre and postoperative crying, and healthy control group; later were digitally recorded, and analyzed through PRAAT Software. Results: 56.2 % were female and 43.7 % were male, witn average age of 25.8 months. Primary palatoplasty was performed using Veau Wadrill technique and Furlow technique. F0 of crying was Pitch average value 349.125 Hz preoperative and Pitch average postoperative control 369.775 Hz. More acute crying emissions were observed in postoperative period (p < 0.000), presenting similar values with control group (p < 0.000). Conclusion: Fundamental frequency (F0) was determined in patients with cleft palate, they presented a significant increase of 15,5 % in postoperative controls of primary palatoplasty, similar to healthy control group.