Children with facial differences experience deficits in emotion skills.

Children with facial differences, such as repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP), may present with reduced capacity for sensorimotor simulation, particularly in the form of facial mimicry. This study examined whether facial mimicry, emotion recognition, and empathy skills are reduced in children with CLP when compared with sex/age-matched controls. A case-control design was utilized.

Facial Expressions of Emotion in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective: To examine the facial movements children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) employ to express basic emotions. Ability of observers to interpret facial expressions of children with CLP was also considered.

Design: Prospective case-control design.

Socioeconomic Deprivation Detrimentally Influences Language Outcomes in Toddlers With Cleft Palate.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of socioeconomic deprivation on language and developmental outcomes in toddlers with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L). Other factors known to influence language outcomes were also considered, including home language history, history of hearing problems, syndromic diagnoses, and sex.

Method: A multicenter, cross-sectional study design was conducted.

Voice Disorder Prevalence and Vocal Health Characteristics in Adolescents.

Importance: Voice disorders impede communication and detract from quality of life, yet little is known about how voice problems present in adolescents. This study characterized the prevalence of voice problems and vocal health characteristics of adolescents throughout the US.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of adolescent voice problems in the US as well as the symptoms, voice use patterns, and risk factors associated with these problems.

Voice Disorder Prevalence and Vocal Health Characteristics in Children.

Importance: Voice disorders impede communication and limit quality of life for many children. However, research demonstrating the prevalence of pediatric voice problems and associated voice use patterns is scarce. This investigation examined the prevalence of voice problems and vocal health characteristics of school-aged children.

Effects of Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction in Adolescents: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) on adolescents.

Method: Twenty patients (< 17 years) diagnosed with EILO participated in this study. Patients completed semistructured interviews examining their experience with the health care system, treatment, and the effects of EILO symptoms on quality of life.

Anxiety, Depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients With Induced Laryngeal Obstruction.

Importance: Patients with induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) present with a variety of behavioral health profiles. Identifying these profiles is crucial in that behavioral health conditions may affect treatment duration and outcomes.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and physical somatic symptoms in adult and pediatric patients with ILO and determine the factors associated with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and physical somatic symptoms in patients with ILO?

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study included a nonprobability sample of 83 adult and 81 pediatric patients diagnosed with ILO at outpatient adult and pediatric otolaryngology clinics between 2021 and 2023.

Economic Burden of Induced Laryngeal Obstruction in Adolescents and Children.

Purpose: Diagnosing pediatric induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) requires equipment typically available in specialist settings, and patients often see multiple providers before a diagnosis is determined. This study examined the financial burden associated with the diagnosis and treatment of ILO in pediatric patients with reference to socioeconomic disadvantage.

Methods: Adolescents and children (<18 years of age) diagnosed with ILO were identified through the University of Madison Voice and Swallow Outcomes Database.

Examining therapy duration in adults with induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO).

Objective: This study examined the number of therapy sessions required to sufficiently improve (exercise) induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO/ILO) symptoms for discharge. Factors predicting therapy duration were examined as was the likelihood of patients returning for additional therapy sessions following initial discharge.

Methods: Retrospective observational cohort design.

Factors influencing behavioral cough suppression therapy in children with nonspecific chronic cough.

Background: Behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) with a speech-language pathologist is a common treatment for chronic nonspecific cough (a.k.a.

Clinical Profiles of Children and Adolescents With Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO).

Purpose: To compare clinical profiles of pediatric patients with Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO), Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO), and EILO with non-exertion related secondary triggers (EILO+).

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort design was employed. Four-hundred and twenty-three patients <18 years of age were identified from the electronic medical record of a large children's hospital.

Examining Therapy Duration in Adults With Voice Disorders.

Purpose: This study examined the number of voice therapy sessions and the number of weeks in treatment to achieve desired voice outcomes in adults with voice disorders. Factors that may predict therapy duration were examined, as was the percentage of patients returning to the clinic for additional voice therapy after initial discharge.

Method: An observational cohort design was utilized.

Therapy Outcomes for Teenage Athletes With Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction.

Purpose: This study examined treatment outcomes of speech-language pathology intervention addressing exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) symptoms in teenage athletes.

Method: A prospective cohort design was utilized; teenagers diagnosed with EILO completed questionnaires during initial EILO evaluations, posttherapy, 3-month posttherapy, and 6-month posttherapy. Questionnaires examined the frequency of breathing problems, the use of the techniques taught in therapy, and the use of inhaler.

Videostroboscopy Versus High-Speed Videoendoscopy: Factors Influencing Ratings of Laryngeal Oscillation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient voice-related diagnosis, severity of dysphonia, and rater's experience influence the relationship between laryngeal oscillation ratings made from videostroboscopic and high-speed videoendoscopic (HSV) exams.

Method: Stroboscopy and HSV exams from 15 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) and 15 with benign vocal fold lesions were rated for laryngeal oscillation and closure by 10 licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Raters were divided into low- (< 5 years) and high-experience (> 5 years) groups.

Relationship Between Auditory-Perceptual and Objective Measures of Resonance in Children with Cleft Palate: Effects of Intelligibility and Dysphonia.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between auditory-perceptual ratings of resonance and nasometry scores in children with cleft palate. Factors which may impact this relationship were examined including articulation, intelligibility, dysphonia, sex, and cleft-related diagnosis.

Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Pediatric Voice Therapy: How Many Sessions to Discharge?

Purpose: Voice therapy is the primary treatment for children presenting with benign morphological vocal fold changes. This study examined the number of voice therapy sessions required to meet treatment goals and identified factors that predicted treatment length for pediatric voice patients.

Method: An observational cohort design was employed.

Are Children with Cleft Palate at Increased Risk for Laryngeal Pathology?

To determine the prevalence of laryngeal pathology in children presenting with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) who underwent nasoendoscopy to assess palatal function. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between patient demographics, resonance, articulation, and prevalence of laryngeal pathology in this population. Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Voice Therapy Improves Acoustic and Auditory-Perceptual Outcomes in Children.

Purpose: This study employed acoustic measures as well as auditory-perceptual assessments to examine the effects of voice therapy in children presenting with benign vocal fold lesions.

Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort design was employed. Sustained vowels produced by 129 children diagnosed with benign vocal fold lesions were analyzed, as well as connected speech samples produced by 47 children.

Factors impacting therapy duration in children and adolescents with Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM).

Purpose: Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM) may cause airway restriction and resulting dyspnea in the pediatric population. Therapy with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is the primary treatment for children and adolescents diagnosed with Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM). This study examined treatment duration and factors predicting number of therapy sessions required.

The effects of vocal exertion on lung volume measurements and acoustics in speakers reporting high and low vocal fatigue.

Purpose: Vocal exertion is common and often results in reduced respiratory and laryngeal efficiency. It is unknown, however, whether the respiratory kinematic and acoustic adjustments employed during vocal exertion differ between speakers reporting vocal fatigue and those who do not. This study compared respiratory kinematics and acoustic measures in individuals reporting low and high levels of vocal fatigue during a vocal exertion task.

Patient-Reported Qualitative Analysis of Chronic Refractory Cough.

Purpose: Chronic cough has been shown to be associated with adverse effects on quality of life. There is a paucity of research characterizing quality-of-life factors associated with chronic refractory cough (CRC), a cough persisting > 8 weeks despite evaluation and treatment of possible etiologies. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the features of CRC from the patient's perspective, including presenting symptoms, past treatment methods, and quality-of-life factors.

Eliciting and Characterizing Porcine Vocalizations: When Pigs Fly.

Background/objectives: While voice-related therapeutic interventions are often researched preclinically in the porcine model, there are no well-established methods to induce porcine glottic phonation. Described approaches, such as training animals to phonate for positive reinforcement are time-consuming and plagued by inherent variability in the type of phonation produced and contamination of background noise. Thus, a reliable method of assessing glottic phonation in the porcine model is needed.

Can Resident Auditory-Perceptual Voice Assessments Predict Medical Urgency of Voice Disorders?

Background/objectives: Growing reliance on telemedicine has created new triaging challenges. This study investigated how effectively otolaryngology resident auditory-perceptual voice assessments performed via telemedicine determined the need for urgent in-person clinic visits.

Methods: Twelve otolaryngology resident physicians (PGY1-PGY5) performed auditory-perceptual assessments on 25 voice samples recorded during initial voice evaluations.

Determining Medical Urgency of Voice Disorders Using Auditory-Perceptual Voice Assessments Performed by Speech-Language Pathologists.

Objective: This study examined whether speech-language pathologist auditory-perceptual voice assessments can predict the medical urgency of voice disorders.

Methods: Twenty speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluated 25 voice samples recorded during initial voice evaluations. Voice samples represented a range of dysphonia severity (mild-severe) balanced across patient diagnoses.