Prevalence and Risk Factors for Dysphonia in Preschoolers at Five Years Old in a Capital City in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

Goals: Identifying the prevalence and risk factors of childhood dysphonia in children turning 5 years old; and assess the link with the interactional, behavioral, sociodemographic, economic, and biological indicators METHOD: Analytical, transversal, nested within a birth cohort 5 years after its creation. Original cohort biologic data were recovered from the previous database. The current demographic and personal data were acquired from the official health institutions where the individuals were found. We managed to find 371 preschoolers, both sexes, enrolled in 141 public and private schools. Face-to-face interviews were performed with mothers regarding maternal and child health and biological, sociodemographic, economic, interactional-affective, and behavioral indicators. Speech therapists used the Consensus of Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice authorized for Portuguese for the perceptual-auditory judgment of children's voices. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes of the data were performed. A significance level of 5% (P < 0.05) was considered in all analyses.

Results: The prevalence of mild-moderate general dysphonia occurred in 26.4% of the preschoolers assessed with tense, rough, and breathy voice quality; low pitch; strong loudness and laryngeal resonance. There was a contrast between preschoolers with dysphonia, calm temperament, and family income of up to three minimum wages and those without these characteristics. We also have noted that a greater chance of dysphonia occurred in preschoolers with a calm temperament, family income of up to three minimum wages, nocturnal bruxism up to 3 years old and who did not use a pacifier.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of dysphonia at 5 years old. Biological indicators have an impact on voice, while interactional, behavioral, sociodemographic, and economic indicators have a higher impact. There is a great need for investments in prevention, promotion, and vocal treatment to minimize negative socio-educational impacts and provide higher quality of life for children at greater risk for dysphonia.

Keywords: Prevalence; Prevention; Promotion; Risk factor; Treatment; Voice disorders.