Vocal Quality, Articulation and Audiological Characteristics of Children and Young Adults with Diagnosed Allergies

Abstract

This study details vocal quality, articulation errors, and hearing disorders in 80 children and young adults with diagnosed allergies. Results indicated that almost 50 % had abnormalities in vocal quality and/or articulation and 13% had reduced auditory acuity. Vocal quality disorders showed a significant relationship to bronchial asthma in association with other allergic reactions. All subjects with diminished hearing had allergic rhinitis either singly or in combination with another disorder. Findings suggest that bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are related to the development of vocal quality disorders and that allergic rhinitis is associated with misarticulations and diminished hearing. The presence of speech sound omissions in allergic rhinitis patients above age 8 may predict the presence or previous history of fluctuating hearing loss.