RELATIONS BETWEEN VOICE RANGE PROFILES AND PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PERCEPTUAL VOICE CHARACTERISTICS IN 10-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Pitch and intensity range of 60 children were recorded and plotted in voice range profiles (VRPs). Different aspects were investigated: mini mum phonation threshold, pitch range, and maximum dynamic range. Vocal fold status was determined via laryngoscopic examination. Ten percent of the children had vocal nodules, 23% glottal chinks. Seven voice ex perts listened to the voices recorded on two separate occasions and ra ted their properties along 16 parameters including hoarseness. Fourtee n percent were rated as hoarse on both recordings and were thus classi fied as being chronically hoarse. Departures from normal in VRP charac teristics were found for children suffering from chronic hoarseness, n odules, and glottal chinks. Children in general seem to have somewhat compressed VRP contours compared with adults, reflecting restricted dy namic vocal capabilities; however, children with mutational voices exh ibited an approximation to adult upper VRP contours.