Vocal behavior in preschool children

• Main Authors: Anselmo-Lima, Wilma, Ricz, Hilton, Isaac, Myriam de Lima, Takeshita, Telma Kioko, Aguiar-Ricz, Lílian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. 2009-09-01
• Series: International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
• Subjects: Voz; Distúrbios da voz; Criança; Pré-escolar; Creches
• Online Access: http://www.arquivosdeorl.org.br/conteudo/acervo_eng.asp?Id=624

Objective: To describe the vocal behavior, identified by parents of preschool children belonging to day nurseries schools. Method: By means of data descriptive analysis we developed a questionnaire answered by 33 parents of children at the age between five and seven years old, without distinction of race and sex. The questionnaire had questions concerning the vocal behavior of the children and of a possible pathological factor associated. Results: Abusive vocal habits such as shouting, speaking too much with strong intensity or with much effort and laughing loud represent 39.6%. The favorite play of 55.3% of the children involved the use of voice and 24.2% imitated other voices. We confirmed that 33.3% of the parents considered the child's voice as being altered, and out of whom, 27.3% ranked it as hoarse and 18.2% with strong intensity. The allergy factor (allergic rhinitis) occurred in 66.3% of the questionnaires. For the parents reaction faced with the child's voice alterations, 36.4% spoke of the subject with the child and 18.2% sought professional service. Conclusion: Most parents answered that their children had abusive vocal behaviors, although many considered their child's voice as being normal. Out of the children's favorite plays mentioned, more than a half involved the ongoing use of the voice. A considerable part of the allergic children presented with some kind of vocal alteration, according to their parents' opinion. There was a prevalence of answers from the parents regarding the attitude of speaking to the child faced with the vocal alteration.