EVALUATION OF DYSPHONIA IN A CHILDRENS CHOIR

This study isolates the voice problems of 99 (40 male, 59 female) chil dren choir singers (age range: 8-14), by applying and validating a sim ple method for classifying the singing voice. The prevalence of dyspho nia was 20.2%. A singing range of fewer than 18 semitones is considere d to suggest dysphonia (sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 95%). Th e validity of the method and its ease of application are discussed. We conclude that voice classification is necessary for all children who sing and that phoniatric examination of dysphonic children is imperati ve, with special attention given to those whose voices are changing.