Spectrographic cry analysis in newborns with profound hearing loss and perinatal high-risk newborns.

Background: Crying is the first neurophysiological demonstration of the newborn. The acoustic analysis of crying episodes can provide useful information in the early diagnosis of several pathologies.

Methods: We carried out a spectrographic cry analysis of 40 infants with several diseases such as neonatal asphyxia, breathing disorders, deafness and neurological disorders. Statistical t-test was used in order to compare means of fundamental frequencies (F0) of cries among pathologies, as well as contingency tables for qualitative variables and melodic form.

Results: No significant differences of F0 were found by applying the t-test among pathologies. Time of inspiration in breathing disorders is higher compared with other groups. Infants with deafness and neurological disorders present poor melodic forms. Qualitative analysis revealed more often glottal roll and vibrato.

Conclusions: Cry analysis is clinically useful for early detection of diseases in newborns as a result of alterations in the central nervous system that are reflected in phonoarticulatory and respiratory functions for sound emission.